BOXABL Inc S-1/A, filed Aug 23, 2024
BOXABL Inc. (BXBL)
As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2024
Registration No. 333-275155
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FG Merger II Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | 6770 | 86-2579471 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer | ||
| incorporation or organization) | Classification Code Number) | Identification Number) |
104 S. Walnut Street,
Unit 1A
Itasca, Illinois 60143
Tel: (847) 773-1665
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Hassan R. Baqar
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A,
Itasca, IL
60143
Tel: (847) 773-1665
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Mitchell
S. Nussbaum Giovanni Caruso Loeb & Loeb LLP 345 Park Avenue New York, New York 10154 Tel: (212) 407-4000 |
Brad L. Shiffman Blank Rome LLP 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ¨
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer x | Smaller reporting company x |
| Emerging growth company x |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information contained in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary 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 PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION | DATED AUGUST 22, 2024 |
8,000,000 Units
FG Merger II Corp.
FG Merger II Corp. is a blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us. Although we may acquire a business in any industry, we intend to focus our search for a target business in the financial services industry in North America.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus. We refer to the rights included in the units as “rights” or the “public rights.” The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding shares of common stock that were sold as part of the units in this offering, which we refer to collectively as our public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date as approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to amend our organizational documents to extend such date, voting together as a single class), we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as further described herein.
Our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of (i) 190,000 units (the “private units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock (the “private shares”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (each a “private right”), and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants (“$15 Exercise Price Warrants” and, together with the private units, the “private placement securities”) at a price of $0.10 per warrant, each exercisable to purchase one share of common stock at $15.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. The $15 Exercise Price Warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering, and will expire ten years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon our liquidation, as described herein.
Our initial stockholders currently own an aggregate of 2,300,000 shares of common stock (which were purchased for $25,000 and which we refer to as “founder shares”) (up to 300,000 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised).
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares, private units (and the underlying securities) and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (and the underlying securities) will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Additionally, we will repay up to $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses and we will reimburse our sponsor an amount equal to $15,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will repay any loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination; up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Upon consummation of this offering, we will also reimburse our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.
Because our initial stockholders acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public stockholders will incur an immediate and material dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the rights included in the units. See the section titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — Our sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 to cover certain of our offering costs in exchange for 2,300,000 founder shares, or approximately $0.01 per founder share and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our shares of common stock.”
The following table illustrates the difference between the public offering price per unit and our net tangible book value per share, as adjusted to reflect various potential redemption levels that may occur in connection with the closing of our initial business combination, which we refer to as “NTBV,” on a pro forma basis to give effect to this offering and the issuance of the private units and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option and exercise of the over-allotment option in full. NTBV excludes the effect of the consummation of our initial business combination or any related transactions or expenses. See the Section entitled “Dilution” of this prospectus for additional information.
| As of June 30, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Offering Price of $10.00 per unit |
25% of Maximum Redemption |
50% of Maximum Redemption |
75% of Maximum Redemption |
Maximum Redemption | ||||||||||||
| NTBV | NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price | ||||||||
| Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||
| $0.011 | $5.882 | $4.118 | $3.923 | $6.077 | $1.965 | $8.035 | $0.006 | $9.994 | ||||||||
| Assuming No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||
| $0.009 | $7.833 | $2.167 | $7.306 | $2.694 | $4.764 | $5.236 | $0.084 | $9.916 | ||||||||
Currently, there is no public market for our units, common stock or rights. We have applied to have our units listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “[_]U” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. We expect the shares of common stock and rights comprising the units to begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless ThinkEquity LLC informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our satisfaction of certain conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the common stock and rights will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “[_]” and “[_]R,” respectively.
We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.
As described in “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Initial Business Combination Targets” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Our sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private rights may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Summary – The Offering – Founder Shares,” “Summary –The Offering – Private units and underlying securities,” “Summary –The Offering – $15 Exercise Price Warrants,” “Risk Factors” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Per Share | Without Over-allotment Option |
With
Over-allotment Option |
||||||||||
| Initial public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 80,000,000 | $ | 92,000,000 | ||||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | 0.10 | $ | 750,000 | $ | 870,000 | |||||||
| Proceeds to us, before expenses | $ | 9.90 | $ | 79,250,000 | $ | 91,130,000 | ||||||
| (1) | The underwriter will be entitled to an underwriting discount equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the gross proceeds of this offering and (ii) an amount equal to $750,000 plus 1% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the over-allotment units. In addition to the cash compensation set forth herein, we have agreed to issue to the underwriters units equaling 0.5% of the units sold in this offering, or 40,000 units, or up to 46,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, each consisting of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Underwriter Units”), in a private placement to be completed concurrently with the consummation of this offering. Except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions, the Underwriter Units will be identical to the public units sold in this offering. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters. |
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities described in this prospectus, $80,000,000, or $92,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (approximately $10.00 per unit in each case), will be deposited into a trust account in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, after deducting $750,000 (or $870,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in underwriting commissions payable upon the closing of this offering and an aggregate of $1,250,000 (or $1,130,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following the closing of this offering.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about , 2024.
ThinkEquity
The date of this prospectus is , 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any other information others may give to you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
i
This prospectus contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
ii
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context otherwise requires, references to:
| ● | “approved extension” are to an extension of the date by which we must complete our initial business combination as approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to amend our organizational documents to extend such date, voting together as a single class; |
| ● | “directors” are to our current directors; |
| ● | “founder shares” are to shares of our common stock initially purchased by our sponsor in a private placement; |
| ● | “Fundamental Global” are to Fundamental Global, LLC, a private holding company, including its privately-held subsidiaries and affiliates; |
| ● | “initial stockholders” are to our sponsor and any other holders of our founder shares immediately prior to this offering; |
| ● | “management” or our “management team” are to our executive officers, directors and our senior advisor; |
| ● | “NASDAQ” are to the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; |
| ● | “private placement” are to the private placement to our sponsor (and/or its designees) of the private units and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants that will occur simultaneously with this offering. |
| ● | “private placement securities” are to the private units (including the underlying private shares and private rights) and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (including the underlying shares of common stock); |
| ● | “private rights” are to the rights sold as part of the private units; |
| ● | “private shares” are to the shares of common stock sold as part of the private units; |
| ● | “private units” are to the units issued to our sponsor (and/or its designees) in a private placement simultaneously closing with the closing of this offering, with each private unit consisting of one private share and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a private share upon the consummation of an initial business combination; |
| ● | “public rights” refer to the rights which are being sold as part of the units in this offering; |
| ● | “public shares” are to shares of common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market); |
| ● | “public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial stockholders and management team to the extent our initial stockholders and/or members of our management team purchase public shares, provided that each initial stockholder’s and member of our management team’s status as a “public stockholder” will only exist with respect to such public shares; |
1
| ● | “sponsor” are to FG Merger Investors II LLC, a Nevada limited liability company formed for the purpose of acting as the sponsor in connection with this offering and the sponsor conducts no other business; [_____] is the managing member of the sponsor, and each of [_____], [____] and [____] owns limited membership interests in our sponsor; |
| ● | “Underwriter Rights” are to the rights issued as part of the Underwriter Units; |
| ● | “Underwriter Shares” are to the shares of common stock issued as part of the Underwriter Units; |
| ● | “Underwriter Units” are to the units issued to ThinkEquity LLC, the representative of the underwriters of this offering, in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering; |
| ● | “we,” “us,” “company,” “Company” or “our company” are to FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation; |
| ● | “$15 Exercise Price Warrants” are to the 1,000,000 warrants purchased by our sponsor at a price of $0.10 per warrant, each exercisable to purchase one share of common stock at $15.00 per share. |
Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.
2
We are a newly organized blank check company formed as a Nevada corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Throughout this prospectus we will refer to this as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We intend to prioritize combinations where we see significant opportunity for attractive risk adjusted investor returns driven by the dynamics of a public listing. Although we will not limit our search to any particular geography or industry, we will concentrate our efforts on identifying businesses in the financial services industry in North America. Since our team has experience and contacts in many different industries within and outside financial services, if we find a quality combination in an industry outside of financial services, we may choose to pursue that combination. We believe we can capitalize on the network and ability of our management team to identify, acquire, and manage a business. We intend to find a combination that can benefit from our experience, support infrastructure, and differentiated global network.
The transformation from privately held to publicly listed can be a catalyst for acceleration in value creation for a company and its stockholders. Access to public market capital, PIPE investments, public company status, and the currency of publicly traded shares are a few of the many benefits this transformation creates. Quality management teams utilize these benefits to drive value creation. We will prioritize our search to find targets that we believe will derive an acceleration in value creation and attractive returns from these benefits.
Potential targets exhibit a broad range of business models and financial characteristics. From innovative and/or disruptive, high growth companies, to mature businesses with recurring revenues, solid profitability, and strong cash flows. We will seek to acquire established businesses that we believe are fundamentally sound and would benefit from a public listing. We will prioritize our search where we believe our financial, operational, technological, strategic and/or managerial expertise can maximize value.
Successful innovation and/or disruption can bring outsized growth and consolidation opportunities as new products and services are adopted by the marketplace. Opportunities for successful innovation can exist in both mature organizations and earlier-stage companies. We will look at earlier-stage companies that exhibit the potential to change the industries in which they participate, and which offer the potential of sustained high levels of revenue growth with an articulated path to profitability. We will also look for mature organizations in a broader group of sectors that are experiencing changes in this new era of the American business landscape.
While we will not limit our search to any business segment, we will focus on financial services. Our team has significant experience in operating and investing in successful financial services companies. We believe we are well positioned to develop a compelling opportunity set of potential merger targets.
Key industry characteristics include potential or historical long-term organic growth, growth through consolidation, and attractive competitive dynamics. Key business characteristics include a strong management team, high barriers to entry, and public market-ready scale. Key financial metrics include revenue growth, recurring revenues, and strong cash flow conversion.
Consistent with our focus, we intend to target financial services businesses that have strong management teams, differentiated products or services, potential or historical growth and an identified pathway to long-term profitability. We believe that the extensive networks of our management team, board of directors and advisors will deliver access to a broad spectrum of opportunities across financial services and other sectors. In addition to any potential business candidates we may identify on our own, we anticipate that other target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
3
We will seek to capitalize on the financial services experience and contacts of our management team. Our management team includes Larry Swets, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer, Hassan R. Baqar, our Chief Financial Officer, D. Kyle Cerminara, Andrew B. McIntyre, Scott D. Wollney and Richard E. Govignon, members of our board of directors, and Ndamukong Suh and M. Wesley Schrader, our Senior Advisor.
Our management team is comprised of finance and investment and merchant banking leaders with senior level transactional experience with a variety of experience and expertise in capital markets, asset management, financial product development, FinTech, insurance, InsureTech, entertainment, real estate, data and analytics, semiconductors, telecom, cleantech, healthcare, and oil and gas as well as experience as investors and entrepreneurs. Our management team has completed numerous going-public, mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions. Our team also has extensive experience in operating public and private financial services companies, serving on both public and private company boards of directors, including financial institutions and insurance companies, strong knowledge and experience in financial, legal and regulatory matters, initial public offerings, and private equity and venture capital.
We believe that these networks of contacts and relationships will provide us with an important source of potential initial business combination targets. In addition, we anticipate that target business candidates may be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity groups, investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. Upon the closing of this offering, members of our management team will communicate with these networks of relationships to articulate the parameters for our search for a target business and a potential business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing promising leads.
Larry G. Swets, Jr.
has served as our Chief Executive Officer since inception . Mr. Swets has over 25 years of experience within financial services encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Swets founded Itasca Financial LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2005 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Swets is founder and President of Itasca Golf Managers, Inc., a management services and advisory firm focused on the real estate and hospitality industries since August 2018. Mr. Swets serves as Chief Executive Officer and a director of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U) since October 2021, a special purpose acquisition Company seeking to complete an acquisition. Mr. Swets has served as Chief Executive Officer of FG Merger III Corp. since September 2023, a special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing its initial public offerings; and as Head of Merchant Banking of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) (Nasdaq: FGF) since February 2024. Mr. Swets is a member of the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry since June 2016, and Ascension Illinois Foundation since March 2018
Previously, Mr. Swets served as a director of FG Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: FGMCU), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with iCoreConnect Inc. (Nasdaq: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services, from February 2022 to August 2023, and as a director and Chief Executive Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit, from July 2020 to July 2021. Mr. Swets served as Senior Advisor to Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market, from April 2021 to December 2021. Mr. Swets also served as Chief Executive Officer of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) from November 2020 to February 2024, after having served as interim CEO from June 2020 to November 2020, Chief Executive Officer of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.) from June 2016 to June 2021, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) from July 2010 to September 2018, including as its President from July 2010 to March 2017. He served as Chief Executive Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp., a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB), from April 2014 to July 2016. He was also a founder and served as Chairman of the Board of Unbounded Media Corporation from June 2019 to September 2023. Mr. Swets also previously served as a member of the board of directors of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) from November 2013 to February 2024, FG Group Holdings, Inc. from October 2021 to February 2024, Harbor Custom Development, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCDI) from February 2020 to November 2023, Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB) from July 2016 to August 2021, Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) from September 2013 to December 2018, Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (OTC: AFHIF) from December 2010 to January 2018, FMG Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: FMGQ) from May 2007 to September 2008, United Insurance Holdings Corp. from 2008 to March 2012; and Risk Enterprise Management Ltd. from November 2007 to May 2012. Mr. Swets served as director of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd. from October 2017 to December 2021.
Prior to founding Itasca Financial LLC, Mr. Swets served as an insurance company executive and advisor, including the role of director of investments and fixed income portfolio manager for Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, formerly known as Kemper Insurance Companies. Mr. Swets began his career in insurance as an intern in the Kemper Scholar program in 1994. Mr. Swets earned a Master’s Degree in Finance from DePaul University in 1999 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Valparaiso University in 1997. He is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
4
Hassan R. Baqar has served as our Chief Financial Officer since inception. Mr. Baqar has over 20 years of experience within financial services and other industries focused on corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, investments and real estate transactions. Mr. Baqar has served as the founder and managing member of Sequoia Financial LLC, a financial services and advisory firm, since January 2019. Mr. Baqar has also served as Chief Financial Officer of FG Merger III Corp, a special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing its initial public offerings, since September 2023, as Chief Financial Officer from August 2021 to February 2024 and Executive Vice President from December 2021 to February 2024 of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGF)), which operates as a reinsurance and asset management holding company, as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition II Corp., a special purpose acquisition company in the process of going public and is focused on merging with a company in the InsureTech, FinTech, broader financial services and insurance sectors from February 2021 to October 2023, as Chief Financial Officer of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd., a former Bermuda based reinsurance company from October 2017 to December 2021, as a director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry from August 2019 to December 2021 and as Chief Financial Officer of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. from June 2016 to December 2020, as a director of FG Reinsurance Ltd., a Cayman Islands reinsurance company since June 2020, as director, treasurer and secretary of Sponsor Protection Coverage and Risk, Inc., a South Carolina captive insurance company since October 2022, and as a director and Chief Financial Officer of Unbounded Media Corporation from June 2019 to September 2023. Since October 2021, Mr. Baqar has also served as the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector.
Mr. Baqar served as a director of FG Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: FGMCU) from December 2021 to August 2023, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with iCoreconnect Inc. (Nasdaq: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services, and as Chief Financial Officer of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF) from January 2021 to December 2021, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. From July 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Baqar served as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Previously, he served as Vice President of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) (“Kingsway”) from January 2014 to January 2019 and as a Vice President of Kingsway’s subsidiary Kingsway America Inc. from January 2010 to January 2019. Mr. Baqar also served as Chief Financial Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp. from April 2014 to July 2016, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB). Mr. Baqar served as a member of the board of directors of FG Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF) from October 2012 to May 2015. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer of United Insurance Holdings Corp. (NYSE: UIHC), a publicly held property and casualty insurance holding company, from August 2011 to April 2012.
His previous experience also includes director of finance at Itasca Financial, LLC from 2008 to 2009 and positions held at Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company (a Kemper Insurance company), a diversified mutual property-casualty insurance provider, from June 2000 to April 2008, where he most recently served as a senior analyst. Mr. Baqar earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern Illinois University in 2009 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Monmouth College in 2000. He also holds a Certified Public Accountant designation.
5
D. Kyle Cerminara has served as our Chairman since October 2023. Mr. Cerminara has over 20 years’ experience as an institutional investor, asset manager, director, chief executive, founder and operator of multiple financial services and technology businesses. Mr. Cerminara co-founded Fundamental Global in 2012 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Cerminara is a member of the board of directors of a number of companies focused in the reinsurance, asset management, technology and communication sectors, including Fundamental Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGF) (formerly known as FG Financial Group, Inc. and as 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.), which operates as a reinsurance and asset management company, since December 2016; Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE American: SGE), a leader in the entertainment industry providing mission critical products and services to cinema exhibitors and entertainment venues, since March 2022; and Firefly Systems Inc., a venture-backed digital advertising company, since August 2020. Mr. Cerminara has served as the Chairman and President since the founding of FG Communities, Inc. in July 2022. FG Communities is a corporation created to preserve and improve affordable housing through ownership and management of manufactured housing communities. Mr. Cerminara is the Chairman of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX:FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has entered an agreement to acquire Strong/MDI Screen Systems, Inc.
Mr. Cerminara served as a director of FG Group Holdings Inc., a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the entertainment and retail markets that merged with Fundamental Global, Inc. in February 2024, from February 2015 until February 2024; he served as its Chairman from May 2015 until February 2024; and he previously served as its Chief Executive Officer from November 2015 through April 2020. Mr. Cerminara has served as the Chairman of Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. since March 2022. Mr. Cerminara was appointed Chairman of Fundamental Global, Inc. in May 2018 and served as its Principal Executive Officer from March 2020 to June 2020, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since its merger with FG Group Holdings, Inc. in February 2024. Mr. Cerminara served as a director of BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American: BKTI) from July 2015 through December 2023, and served as its Chairman from July 2022 through December 2023 and previously from March 2017 until April 2020. From February 2022 to August 2023, Mr. Cerminara served as a Senior Advisor to FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. From April 2021 to December 2021, Mr. Cerminara served as a director of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company co-sponsored by Fundamental Global, which merged with Hagerty Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. From July 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Cerminara served as Director and President of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. He served on the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry, from June 2016 to October 2021 and was appointed Chairman from June 2018 to June 2021; Limbach Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMB), a company which provides building infrastructure services, from March 2019 to March 2020; Iteris, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI), a publicly-traded, applied informatics company, from August 2016 to November 2017; Magnetek, Inc., a publicly-traded manufacturer, in 2015; and blueharbor bank, a community bank, from October 2013 to January 2020. He served as a Trustee and President of StrongVest ETF Trust, which was an open-end management investment company, from July 2016 to March 2021. Previously, Mr. Cerminara served as the Co-Chief Investment Officer of CWA Asset Management Group, LLC, a position he held from January 2013 to December 2020.
Prior to these roles, Mr. Cerminara was a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management, an independent financial adviser, from 2011 to 2012, a Director and Sector Head of the Financials Industry at Highside Capital Management from 2009 to 2011, and a Portfolio Manager and Director at CR Intrinsic Investors from 2007 to 2009. Before joining CR Intrinsic Investors, Mr. Cerminara was a Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager and Analyst at T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW) from 2001 to 2007, where he was named amongst Institutional Investor’s Best of the Buy Side Analysts in November 2006, and an Analyst at Legg Mason from 2000 to 2001.
Mr. Cerminara received an MBA degree from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an NCAA Academic All American and Co-Captain of the men’s varsity tennis team. He also completed a China Executive Residency at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, China. Mr. Cerminara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
6
Scott D. Wollney has served as our director since October 2023. Since March 30, 2015, Mr. Wollney has served as a director of Fundamental Global Inc. (“FGF”). Since December 2010, Mr. Wollney has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Atlas”) (OTC: AFHIF), a holding company whose business has been primarily specialty commercial automobile insurance. From July 2009 until December 2010, Mr. Wollney was President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway America Inc. (KAI), a property and casualty holding company and subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. From May 2008 to March 2009, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln General Insurance Company (a subsidiary of KAI), a property and casualty insurance company. Mr. Wollney co-founded Avalon Risk Management, Inc., an insurance broker, in 1998, and served as its President, from 2002 to 2008. Mr. Wollney has more than 30 years of experience in property and casualty insurance. During his tenure in the industry, Mr. Wollney has held executive positions at insurance companies and managing general agencies, as well as brokerage operations. Mr. Wollney is a MBA graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a concentration in finance and management strategy and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois.
Dr. Richard E. Govignon, Jr was appointed to the Board of Directors of FG Merger II Corp in October 2023. Dr. Govignon, 46, has been a Partner of Dnerus Financial, a family asset management company, since June 2021. Dr. Govignon is an experienced corporate director/trustee in the U.S. and Canada with broad exposure to numerous industries. Dr. Govignon serves as a director of the board of Fundamental Global Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF), a reinsurance and asset management holding company focused on collateralized and loss-capped reinsurance and merchant banking since December 2021. Dr. Govignon has been a director of Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SGE), a corporation focused on supplying screens and providing technical support services to the cinema exhibition industry, theme parks, and other entertainment-related markets since January 2022. Dr. Govignon also serves as a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a special purpose acquisition corporation (“SPAC”) incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia since April 2022. Dr. Govignon is also a member of the board of directors of B-Scada, Inc. (OTC: SCDA), a company developing software and hardware products since June 2021. Dr. Govignon served as a member of the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc. (TSXV: GFP), a public company focused on forest product investments, from January 2019 to December 2021. Dr. Govignon also served as a Trustee of the StrongVest ETF Trust (US: CWAI) that, invested in a diversified portfolio of corporate bonds with varying maturities and equity securities from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Govignon has worked in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry in various management and pharmacy positions for over 20 years, most recently with ShopRite Pharmacy since 2022 and previously with CVS Health Corporation (2022-2019 and from 2013-2017), with Acme Markets Inc. (2017-2019) and Rite Aid Corporation (2001-2013). Dr. Govignon received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. We believe Dr. Govignon's managerial experience and his experience in investing and financial analysis make him qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.
Andrew B. McIntyre serves as our Director since October 2023. Mr. McIntyre is Managing Director of Segwin Consulting Ltd., a consultancy specializing in M&A advisory and strategy development and execution. Since November 2021 Mr. McIntyre has served as a director and audit committee member of the FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U). Since November 2023 Mr. McIntyre has served as a director of FG Merger III Corp., special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing initial public offerings. Mr. McIntyre served as Director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry, from June 2016 to December 2021. During his tenure as a director of GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc., Mr. McIntyre also served as a member of its audit committee. From July 2022 through December 2023, Mr. McIntyre was Senior Advisor at Deloitte LLP. Mr. McIntyre served Sofina Foods Inc. as Senior Vice President, Finance from September 2019 to June 2022. From October 2016 to August 2019, Mr. McIntyre served Samuel, Son & Co. Limited in the role of Vice President, Corporate Development. Previously, Mr. McIntyre was Vice President, Corporate Development at Vicwest Inc. Mr. McIntyre has served on the Boards of Directors of Burloak Technologies Inc., Pre-Insulated Metal Technologies Inc., BBi Enterprises Inc., MDS Capital Company and the Orthopaedic & Arthritic Institute. Mr. McIntyre’s formal designations include ICD.D., Chartered Financial Analyst, Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and P. Eng
M. Wesley Schrader has served as our senior advisor since October 2023. Mr. Schrader has over 25 years of experience encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Schrader founded Waverider Partners LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2021 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Schrader co-founded FC Logistics LLC, a privately held company, in April 2024 and has served as its CEO since inception. Mr. Schrader founded Capital MW LLC, a management consulting firm, in 2008 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Schrader served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of FG Merger Corp. from January 2022 to August 2023. Mr. Schrader also served as Senior Advisor from January 2022 to December 2022 to Columbine Logging, Inc. d/b/a Columbine Corporation, a privately held company, where he served as Chief Executive Officer from March 2018 to December 2021.
Previously, Mr. Schrader has held various executive and management positions, primarily focused on corporate development and finance. Mr. Schrader holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso University, a Master of Business in Administration from the University of Denver, and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Denver.
Ndamukong Suh has been a Senior Advisor to FG Merger II Corp since October 2023. Mr. Suh is an independent private investor and holds ownership interests in several real estate development projects across Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Colorado. Mr. Suh is the Founder and a director of the Suh Family Foundation. He is also a professional athlete and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (“NFL”) during 2022. He previously was with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019 to 2022, becoming a Superbowl champion in February 2021, Los Angeles Rams from 2018 to 2019, Miami Dolphins from 2015 to 2017 and Detroit Lions from 2010 to 2014. He has served on the Board of Directors of FG Group Holdings, Inc (NYSE American: FGH), a holding company with diverse business interests since January 2016. Mr. Suh serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of Ember Technologies, a privately held manufacturer and designer of patented temperature adjustable dishware and drinkware. Mr. Suh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering focused on Construction Management from the University of Nebraska.
Prior SPAC Experience
Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Swets, served as senior advisor to Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Mr. Swets is currently the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector. Previously, Mr. Swets served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit.Mr. Swets is currently the Chief Executive Officer of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Mr. Baqar, served as Chief Financial Officer of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. In addition, Mr. Baqar also served as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector, as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit, as Chief Financial Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp., a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB). Mr. Baqar is currently the Chief Financial Officer of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our director, D. Kyle Cerminara, served as a senior advisor to FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. He previously served as a director of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Mr. Cerminara also served as director and president of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Mr. Cerminara is currently a director and a Chairman of the Board of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our director, Dr. Richard E. Govignon, serves as a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector. Mr. Govignon is currently a director of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our director, Andrew B. McIntyre, serves as a director FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector. Mr. McIntyre is currently a director of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our senior advisor, M. Wesley Schrader, served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. Mr. Schrader is currently a senior advisor of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our senior advisor, M. Nadamukong Suh also serves as a senior advisor of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
The following table sets forth information regarding the extensions and redemption levels in connection with such extensions or business combination for each SPAC in which our management team has participated:
| Extensions | Business Combination | |||||||||||
| Name of SPAC | Date | Redemptions | Date | Redemptions | ||||||||
| Aldel Financial Inc. | % | % | ||||||||||
| FG Acquisition Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||
| FG New America Acquisition Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||
| FG Merger Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||
| 1347 Capital Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||
7
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating initial business combination opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to seek to acquire companies within industries that exhibit strong characteristics including, but not limited to, the following:
| ● | Public market-ready scale; |
| ● | Strong management team; |
| ● | Recurring revenues; |
| ● | High barrier to entry; |
| ● | Long-term organic growth; |
| ● | Consolidation opportunities to scale; |
| ● | Attractive competitive dynamics; |
| ● | Differentiated products or services; and |
| ● | Strong cash flow conversion. |
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we would file with the SEC. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. The company will not pay any consulting fees to members of our management team, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or in connection with our initial business combination.
8
We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) to consummate our initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually), and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public stockholders. In the event of our dissolution and liquidation, the rights included in the private units will expire worthless.
NASDAQ rules require that we must consummate an initial business combination with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted). Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. Additionally, pursuant to NASDAQ rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors.
If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the target’s assets or prospects.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post- transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the “Investment Company Act”. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of net assets test described above. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
9
SOURCING OF POTENTIAL INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION TARGETS
We believe our management team’s significant operating and transaction experience and relationships will provide us with a substantial number of potential initial business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team and our directors and advisors have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships around the world, which includes private equity firms, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. This network has grown through the activities of our management team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, the reputation of our management team for integrity and fair dealing with sellers, financing sources and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying economic and financial market conditions. In addition, members of our management team have developed contacts derived directly from serving on the boards of directors of several public and private companies.
This network has provided our management team with a flow of referrals, which in the past has resulted in numerous transactions which were proprietary or where a limited group of investors were invited to participate in the sale process. We believe that this network will provide us with multiple investment opportunities. In addition, we anticipate that target business combination candidates will be brought to our attention by various unaffiliated sources, including participants in our targeted markets and their advisors, private equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, executive officers or directors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public stockholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm stating that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team and our independent directors will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement securities following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, the founder shares and private placement securities may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. Further, each of the members of our management team may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such person was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. See “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for additional information.
The low price that our sponsor, officers, directors and senior advisors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our management team could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders.If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares, private units (and the underlying securities) and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (and the underlying securities) will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Additionally, we will repay up to $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses and we will reimburse our sponsor an amount equal to $15,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will repay any loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination; up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Upon consummation of this offering, we will also reimburse our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our sponsor or its affiliates:
| Entity/Individual | Amount
of Compensation to be Received or Securities Issued or to be Issued |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid | ||
| FG Merger Investors II LLC | 2,000,000 shares of common stock(1) | $25,000 | ||
| 190,000 private units(1) | $1,900,000 | |||
| Up to $150,000 | Repayment of loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. | |||
| $15,000 per month | Office space, administrative and support services | |||
| Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit | Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. | |||
| Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | Services in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. |
| (1) | Assumes no exercise of the over-allotment option and the full forfeiture of 300,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our initial stockholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. |
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
| Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | Average Price Per Share |
||||||||||||||||
| Initial Stockholders(1) | 2,000,000 | 19.63 | % | $ | 25,000 | 0.03 | % | $ | 0.0125 | |||||||||||
| Private Shares | 190,000 | 1.87 | % | 1,900,000 | 2.32 | % | $ | 10 | ||||||||||||
| Public Stockholders | 8,000,000 | 78.51 | % | 80,000,000 | 97.65 | % | $ | 10 | ||||||||||||
| 10,190,100 | 100.00 | % | $ | 81,925,000 | 100.00 | % | ||||||||||||||
(1) Assumes that 300,000 founder shares are forfeited after the closing of this offering in the event the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, including other special purpose acquisition companies. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination.
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However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Additional Financing
We have not selected any specific business combination target but intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than what we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units. As a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemption by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Such additional financing may be in the form of PIPE transactions or convertible debt transactions. These financing transactions would be designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing stockholders. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company, and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. We cannot assure you that financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. None of our initial stockholders, directors or officers or their affiliates are obligated to provide any such financing to us. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate.
In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our directors, officers or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Our executive offices are located at 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143, and our telephone number is (847) 773-1665. We intend to maintain a corporate website at www.[_].com following the consummation of this offering.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.
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In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
| Securities offered | 8,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of: • one share of common stock; and • one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination. | |
| Proposed NASDAQ symbols | Units: “[_]U” Common stock: “[_]” Rights: “[_]R” | |
| Trading commencement and separation of shares of common stock and rights | The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The shares of common stock and rights comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless ThinkEquityLLC (“ThinkEquity”) informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of common stock and rights commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and rights. We will not issue fractional shares. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 20 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. |
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| Separate trading of the common stock and rights is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K | In no event will the common stock and rights be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which closing is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over- allotment option. | |
| Units: | ||
| Number outstanding before this offering | 0 | |
| Number of private units to be issued in a private placement simultaneously with this offering | 190,000(1) | |
| Number of underwriter units to be issued in a private placement simultaneously with this offering | 40,000(2) | |
| Number of units to be issued to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. simultaneously with this offering | 7,500(3) | |
| Number of units to be outstanding after this offering | 8,237,500(4) | |
| Common stock: | ||
| Number of shares outstanding before this offering | 2,300,000(5) | |
| Number of shares to be outstanding after this offering | 10,237,500(3)(6) | |
| Rights: | ||
| Number of shares issuable under rights outstanding before this offering | 0 | |
| Number of shares issuable under rights to be outstanding after this offering | 411,875(8) | |
| Warrants: | ||
| Number of warrants outstanding before this offering | 0 | |
| Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering | 1,000,000(3)(7) |
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(1) Represents the issuance to our sponsor (and/or its designees) of 190,000 private units in a private placement to be completed concurrently with the consummation of this offering.
(2) Represents the issuance to the underwriters of 40,000 units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Underwriter Units”), in a private placement to be completed concurrently with the consummation of this offering. Excludes the issuance of an additional 6,000 Underwriter Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full. Except as described herein, the Underwriter Units are identical to the units issued in this offering.
(3) EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as a financial advisor to the Company and will receive 7,500 units (the “EarlyBird Units”) at Closing as part of its compensation.
(4) Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture of 300,000 founder shares by our initial stockholders for no consideration.
(5) Includes up to 300,000 founder shares that will be forfeited by our initial stockholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(6) Consists of (i) 8,000,000 public shares, (ii) 2,000,000 founder shares, (iii) 190,000 private shares underlying the private units, (iv) 40,000 shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units (the “Underwriter Shares”), and (v) 7,500 shares of common stock underlying the EarlyBird Units (the “EarlyBird Shares”).
(7) Consists of 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants to be sold in private placement occurring simultaneously with the closing of this offering.
(8) Consists of (i) public rights convertible into 400,000 shares, (ii) private rights convertible into 9,500 shares, (iii) Underwriter Rights convertible into 2,000 shares, and (iv) EarlyBird Rights convertible into 375 shares.
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| Terms of Rights: | Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a public right will automatically receive one-twentieth (1/20) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-twentieth (1/20) of one share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 20 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the public shares for the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds for their rights and the rights will expire worthless. |
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| Founder shares | On October 6, 2023,
our sponsor paid $25,000 in exchange for 2,156,250 founder shares, or approximately $0.012 per share. On October 18, 2023, the
sponsor transferred an aggregate of 465,000 founder shares to members of the Company's management,board of directors and senior
advisors, resulting in the sponsor holding 1,691,250 founder shares. On [_], 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07
founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share , or an aggregate of 143,750 founder shares (the “Dividend
Shares”), resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares. On [_], 2024, our directors, officers and senior advisors transferred
31,000 Dividend Shares to the sponsor. On [_], 2024, the sponsor
transferred an aggregate of 150,000 founder shares to officers of the Company, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,685,000 founder
shares. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by the sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible.
The per share price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of
founder shares issued. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this
offering would be a maximum of 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over- allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore
that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering (not including the shares of common stock
underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants or the shares of common stock underlying the
units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Up to 300,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited by the sponsor
depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised. If we increase or decrease the size
of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution
back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to the founder shares immediately prior to the
consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial stockholders, on an as-
converted basis, at 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of this offering (not including the
shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants or the shares of common
stock underlying the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans).
The founder shares are identical to the shares of common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that:
· the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below;
· the founder shares are entitled to registration rights;
· our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares they hold in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares they hold in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame). If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders and the underwriters have agreed to vote their founder shares, private shares and Underwriter Shares, as applicable, and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares, the private shares and the Underwriter Shares, we would need 329,376, or approximately 4.12%, of the 8,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised and a quorum is present at the meeting); |
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| Transfer restrictions on founder shares and the private placement securities | Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until: (i) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination; except to certain permitted transferees and under certain circumstances as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Securities”. In addition, we could agree to permit the holders of our founder shares to transfer shares or agree to cancel such securities. Although no such transfers or cancellations are contemplated, we could agree to permit such transfer or cancellation to facilitate the closing of a business combination. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up.
The private placement securities (including the shares of common stock underlying the private units and private rights contained therein) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, except as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Securities”.
Assuming no liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction takes place, lock-ups on the founder shares and private placement securities would expire as follows: |
| Founder Shares | Private Placement Securities | |||
| (i) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination | 30 days after the completion of the business combination |
| The limited liability company agreement of our sponsor provides that its membership interests may only be transferred to our officers or directors or other persons affiliated with our sponsor, or in connection with estate planning transfers. | ||
| Voting Rights | Holders of record of our common stock (including the founder shares) will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, with each share of common stock entitling the holder to one vote except as required by law. | |
| Private units and underlying securities | Our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 190,000 private units at $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $1,900,000. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that the private units (including the underlying securities) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. A portion of the purchase price of the private units will be added to the proceeds from this offering and the private placement of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants to be held in the trust account such that at the time of closing $80,000,000 (or $92,000,000 if the underwriters exercise their over- allotment option in full) will be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), the private units (and the underlying securities) will expire worthless. However, upon separation, the private units will be separated into 190,000 private shares and (ii) 9,500 private rights which will result in the issuance of up to an additional 9,500 private shares unpon consummation of an initial business combination. The private units will therefore, upon consummation of an initial business combination, lead to the issuance of an aggregate of 199,500 shares of common stock. Any such issuances would dilute the interests of our stockholders. | |
| $15 Exercise Price Warrants | Our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. A portion of the purchase price of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will be added to the proceeds from this offering and the private placements of the private placement securities to be held in the trust account such that at the time of closing of this offering $80,000,000 (or $92,000,000 if the underwriters exercise their over- allotment option in full) will be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will expire worthless. However, once the $15 Exercise Price Warrants become exercisable, if our sponsor exercises such warrants by paying the cash exercise price, then we could issue 1,000,000 shares of common stock. Any such issuance would dilute the interests of our stockholders.
The $15 Exercise Price Warrants will be non- redeemable and will be exercisable on a cashless basis. |
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| Underwriter Units and underlying securities | We have agreed to issue to the underwriters 40,000 units, or up to 46,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full at the closing of this offering. The Underwriter Units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that the Underwriter Units and the underlying shares (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) will be entitled to registration rights.
The underwriters have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their Underwriter Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension). In addition, the underwriters have agreed to vote any Underwriter Shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. | |
| Transfer restrictions on Underwriter Units and underlying securities | The Underwriter Units (including the underlying Underwriter Rights, the Underwriter Shares and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Underwriter Rights) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until the completion of our initial business combination. Following such period, the Underwriter Units (including the Underwriter Rights the Underwriter Shares and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Underwriter Rights) will be transferable, assignable or salable, except that the Underwriter Units will not trade. |
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| Proceeds to be held in trust account | The rules of NASDAQ provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities be deposited in a trust account. Of the proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities described in this prospectus, $80,000,000, or $92,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (approximately $10.00 per unit in each case), will be deposited into a segregated trust account located in the United States at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, after deducting $750,000 (or $870,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in underwriting commissions payable upon the closing of this offering and an aggregate of $1,250,000 (or $1,130,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following the closing of this offering.
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders. |
| Anticipated expenses and funding sources | Unless and until we complete our initial business combination,
no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest to pay our taxes and/or to
redeem our public shares in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as described above.
The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days
or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only
in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We estimate the interest earned on the trust account (assuming no exercise of the
over-allotment option) will be approximately $[_] per year, assuming an interest rate of [_]% per year; however, we can provide no
assurances regarding this amount. Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from
such interest withdrawn from the trust account (up to $1,000,000 annually for working capital purposes) and:
· the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities not held in the trust account, which initially will be approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in working capital after the payment of approximately $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised) in expenses relating to this offering; and
· any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon the completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. |
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| Ability to extend time to complete an initial business combination sources | We have until the end of the completion window to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we may seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. If we seek stockholder approval for an extension, holders of public shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as further described herein.
Unless and until we complete our initial business combination no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest to pay our income taxes, and/or to redeem our public shares in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described above. The proceeds held in the trust account may only be held as cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank, or invested in direct U.S. government treasury obligations having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in certain money market funds which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:
· the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities not held in the trust account; and
· any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit, at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. |
| Conditions to completing our initial business combination | NASDAQ rules require that we must consummate an initial business combination with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. Additionally, pursuant to NASDAQ rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the target’s assets or prospects. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or is otherwise not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock or shares of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of net assets test described above, provided that in the event that the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as our initial business combination for purposes of a seeking stockholder approval or conducting a tender offer, as applicable. | |
| If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares, private units (and the underlying securities) and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (and the underlying securities) will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Additionally, we will repay up to $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses and we will reimburse our sponsor an amount equal to $15,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will repay any loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination; up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Upon consummation of this offering, we will also reimburse our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. |
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| Permitted purchases of public shares and public rights by our affiliates | If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. However, our initial stockholders have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public rights in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. We expect any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. See “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction. The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be tosatisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the completion of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public rights could be to reduce the number of public rights outstanding. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our common stock or rights may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. |
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| Redemption rights for public stockholders upon the completion of our initial business combination | We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share (whether or not the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our rights. Our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares they hold and any public shares they may acquire during or after this offering in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. |
| Manner of conducting redemptions | We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination (regardless of whether a stockholder votes on the proposed transaction (and regardless of whether a stockholder votes for, votes against, or abstains with respect to the transaction, if the stockholder elects to vote) or (ii) without a stockholder vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation would require stockholder approval. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ we will be required to comply with NASDAQ’s stockholder approval rules. | |
| The requirement that we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above will be contained in provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and will apply whether or not we maintain our registration under the Exchange Act or our listing on NASDAQ. Such provisions may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. If we amend such provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) in connection with a stockholder meeting. |
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If we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with a stockholder meeting, we will:
· conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and
· file proxy materials with the SEC.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted (or such greater number of shares as is required by applicable law) are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting. Shares of common stock held by our initial stockholders and holders of the Underwriter Shares will count towards this quorum and our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors and the underwriters have agreed to vote any founder shares, private shares and Underwriter Shares they hold and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to the founder shares, the private shares and the Underwriter Shares, we would need only 329,376, or approximately 4.12%, of the 8,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the Underwriter Shares are voted in favor of the transaction) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised and a quorum is present at the meeting). This voting threshold, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or whether they were a stockholder on the record date for the stockholder meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
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If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will:
· conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
· file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than the number of public shares we are permitted to redeem. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we or our sponsor will terminate any purchases of shares of our common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
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We intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements.
We believe that this will allow our transfer agent to efficiently process any redemptions without the need for further communication or action from the redeeming public stockholders, which could delay redemptions and result in additional administrative cost. If the proposed initial business combination is not approved and we continue to search for a target company, we will promptly return any certificates or shares delivered by public stockholders who elected to redeem their shares. Our proposed initial business combination may impose a minimum cash requirement for: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares in connection with such initial business combination, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof. We may, however, raise funds through the issuance of equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop arrangements we may enter into following consummation of this offering, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such minimum cash requirements.
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| Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding 15% or more of the shares sold in this offering if we hold stockholder vote | Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us, our sponsor or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination. |
| Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination | On the completion of our initial business combination, the funds held in the trust account will be used to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon the completion of our initial business combination,” to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post- transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. |
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| Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination | Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such 24 month, 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 (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our public rights, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24 month time period. | |
| If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, we do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of this offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination or fail to obtain stockholder approval to extend the completion window, our sponsor’s investment in our founder shares, private units and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will be worthless. |
| Our initial stockholders and holders of the Underwriter Shares have entered into agreements with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation. However, if our initial stockholders or management team or the holders of the Underwriter Shares acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24 month time frame. |
| Our initial stockholders, executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described above under “Limitations on redemptions.” For example, our board of directors may propose such an amendment if it determines that additional time is necessary to complete our initial business combination. In such event, we will conduct a proxy solicitation and distribute proxy materials pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act seeking stockholder approval of such proposal, and in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon stockholder approval of such amendment. |
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| Limited payments to insiders |
There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction). However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, and, if made prior to our initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account.
· Repayment of up to an aggregate of $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering- related and organizational expenses;
· Payment to our sponsor of $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team;
· Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating, negotiating and completing an initial business combination; and
· Repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. | |
| Audit Committee | We will establish and maintain an audit committee. Among its responsibilities, the audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates and monitor compliance with the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to promptly take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see the section entitled “Management — Committees of the Board of Directors — Audit Committee.” |
| Conflicts of interest | Our officers and directors may owe competing duties to other enterprises, and opportunities presented to them may not be presented to us as a result of such conflicts. Also, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. | |
| Our initial stockholders, directors and officers are not prohibited from sponsoring, investing in or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies (including special purpose acquisition companies similar to our company), including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. Potential investors should also be aware of certain potential conflicts of interest as further described in “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” | ||
| We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our initial stockholders, directors or officers; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public stockholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our initial stockholders, directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, may engage independent advisors to assist with the evaluation and will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm that such business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. | ||
In addition, our initial stockholders or any of their affiliates may make additional investments in the company in connection with the initial business combination, although our sponsor and its affiliates have no obligation or current intention to do so. If our initial stockholders or any of their affiliates elects to make additional investments, such proposed investments could influence our initial stockholder’s motivation to complete an initial business combination.
Because the founder shares and private units held by management will be worthless if we do not complete a business combination transaction during the completion window, members of our board of directors may be economically incentivized to consummate an initial business combination with a riskier, weaker-performing or less-established target business.
In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination.
Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination. |
We are a blank check company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company, as well as the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act, and, therefore, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
A brief summary of some of the risk factors that make an investment in us speculative or risky include:
| · | Whether we will be able to complete our initial business combination; |
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| · | Whether we will be successful in retaining or recruiting, or making changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; |
| · | How much time our officers and directors allocate to us 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 and other benefits; |
| · | Whether we will need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination; |
| · | Whether there is a sufficient pool of prospective target businesses for us to acquire, given competition; |
| · | Whether our officers and directors are able to generate a number of potential investment opportunities; |
| · | Whether our securities are delisted from NASDAQ prior to our business combination or an inability to have our securities listed on NASDAQ following a business combination; |
| · | The fact that we may have limited liquidity in our securities; |
| · | The fact there has not previously been a market for our securities; and |
| · | Our financial performance following our business combination. |
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure
We are a blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Our stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, and even if we hold a vote, holders of our founder shares will participate in such vote, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not to hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination if the business combination would not require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Except for as required by applicable law or stock exchange requirement, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Even if we seek stockholder approval, the holders of our founder shares will participate in the vote on such approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders do not approve of the business combination we complete. Please see the section entitled “Proposed Business — Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination” for additional information.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders and management team have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Our initial stockholders will own 20% of our outstanding common stock immediately following the closing of this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, or the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Our initial stockholders and management team also may from time to time purchase common stock prior to our initial business combination. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provides that, if we seek stockholder approval of an initial business combination, such initial business combination will be approved if we receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voted at such meeting, including the founder shares. As a result, in addition to the founder shares, the private shares and the Underwriter Shares, we would need only 329,376, or approximately 4.12%, of the 8,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the Underwriter Shares are voted in favor of the transaction) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised and a quorum is present at the meeting). Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial stockholders and management team to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite stockholder approval for such initial business combination.
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Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of our initial business combination. Since our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such stockholder vote. Accordingly, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding our initial business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with minimum cash requirement for (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third party financing. Raising additional third party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with your exercise of redemption rights until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
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The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension). Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.
We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. Additionally, events such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of infectious diseases may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire. It may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this ‘‘Risk Factors’’ section, such as those related to the market for our securities and cross-border transactions.
If we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering, 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 (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case, to our obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public rights from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our common stock.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, we do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of this offering.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. However, other than as expressly stated herein, our initial stockholders have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public rights in such transactions. Such purchases may include a contractual acknowledgment that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the completion of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public rights could be to reduce the number of public rights outstanding. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. We expect any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. See “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
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In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our common stock or public rights and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the proxy rules or tender offer rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or submit public shares for redemption. For example, we intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent, or to deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable, its shares may not be redeemed. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Manner of Conducting Redemptions.”
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
The market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed in recent years. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
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In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many companies preparing for an initial public offering. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms.
Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
We may engage our underwriters or one or more of their affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as M&A advisor in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. Our underwriters are entitled to receive a deferred underwriting fee only upon the successful completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage our underwriters or one or more of their affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing M&A advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing transactions. We may pay our underwriters or one or more of their affiliates fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with our underwriters or any of their affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to our underwriters or any of their affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriter’s compensation in connection with this offering. Our underwriters are also entitled to receive a deferred underwriting fee that is conditioned on the successful completion of an initial business combination. Our underwriters or their affiliates’ financial interests tied to the consummation of a business combination transaction may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in providing any such additional services to us, including potential conflicts of interest in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
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You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or rights, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if our plan to redeem our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) is not completed for any reason, compliance with Nevada law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders .for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of rights will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the rights. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or rights, potentially at a loss.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we will be exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
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Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our public rights will expire worthless.
We expect to encounter competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess similar or greater technical, human and other resources to ours or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, we are obligated to offer holders of our public shares the right to redeem their shares for cash at the time of our initial business combination in conjunction with a stockholder vote or via a tender offer. Target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our public rights will expire worthless.
The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete such a business combination with.
Pursuant to the NASDAQ listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete a business combination. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate, and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account. If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.
If the net proceeds of this offering not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of the offering, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our sponsor or management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering, only approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account, and the amount we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000) from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following such closing; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent or merger agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business.
In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised), we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised), the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. The amount held in the trust account will not be impacted as a result of such increase or decrease. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Neither our sponsor, members of our management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon the completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public stockholders may only receive an estimated $10.00 per share, or possibly less, on our redemption of our public shares, and our rights will expire worthless.
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The securities in which we invest the proceeds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the interest income available for payment of taxes or reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
The net proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the private placement securities, in the amount of $80,000,000 (assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised), may only be invested in direct U. S. Treasury obligations having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in certain money market funds which invest only in direct U.S. Treasury obligations. While short-term U.S. Treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event of very low or negative yields, the amount of interest income (which we may withdraw to pay income taxes, if any) would be reduced. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro- rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income. If the balance of the trust account is reduced below $80,000,000 as a result of negative interest rates, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
Subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will identify all material issues that may be present with a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining debt financing to partially finance the initial business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, any stockholders or rights holders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or rights holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
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If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per- share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will consider whether competitive alternatives are reasonably available to us and will only enter into an agreement with such third party if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be in the best interests of the company under the circumstances. The underwriters of this offering as well as our registered independent public accounting firm will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per public share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to the letter agreement the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case less taxes payable, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
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We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and executive officers.
We have agreed to indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account and to not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination. Our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination or force us to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
· restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
· restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
· registration as an investment company;
· adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
· reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless it can qualify for an exclusion, a company must ensure that it is engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that its activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.
The SEC recently provided guidance that the determination of whether a special purpose acquisition company, like us, is an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act is a facts and circumstances determination requiring individualized analysis and depends on a variety of factors, including a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities, and “is a question of facts and circumstances” requiring individualized analysis. When applying these factors to us we do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the Company was formed for the purpose of completing an initial business combination with one or more businesses. Our business will be focused on identifying and completing an initial business combination, and thereafter, operating the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. Further, we do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale and we do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor. In addition, the proceeds held in the trust account will only be held as cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank, or invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended business combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the trust account, we may, at any time (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank. Pursuant to the investment management trust agreement, the trustee will not be permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds in this manner, and by focusing our directors’ and officers’ time toward, and operating our business for the purpose of, acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund or investing in assets for the purpose of achieving investment returns on such assets), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Further, investing in our securities is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. Instead, the trust account will be intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of either: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within the completion window, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as described above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding that we have limited our activities as described above, we could nevertheless be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company. If our facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure in future filings with the SEC to reflect how those changes impact the risk that we may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company.
If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would need to register as such under the Investment Company Act and compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. We may also be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination, and instead be required to liquidate the trust account and may be required to change our operations or wind down our operations. In which case, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our securities following such a transaction, and our rights would expire worthless.
If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. We may also be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate the trust account. If we are required to liquidate the trust account, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our securities following such a transaction, and our rights would expire worthless. On the liquidation of our trust account, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00, or less in certain circumstances, and our rights will expire worthless. Changes in laws or regulations or in how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to rules and regulations enacted by various national, regional and local governing bodies, including for example, the SEC, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly and our efforts to comply with such new and evolving laws and regulations have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention, In addition, these changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted a series of new rules, effective as of July 1, 2024, relating to SPACs (the “SPAC Rules”) requiring, among other items, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC business combination transactions; (ii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in both SPAC initial public offerings and de-SPAC transactions; (iii) the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; (iv) amendments to the financial statement requirements applicable to business combination transactions involving SPACs; and (v) both the SPAC and the target company’s status as co-registrants on de-SPAC registration statements.
In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team in furtherance of such goals.
Compliance with the SPAC Rules and related guidance may increase the costs of and the time needed to negotiate and complete an initial business combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination.
This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. A failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations and any subsequent changes, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
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Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under Nevada law, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution.
The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) may be considered a liquidating distribution under Nevada law. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more). Any action or suit must be commenced within two years after the dissolution if the plaintiff knew or should have known the underlying facts on or before the dissolution, or within three years after the date of dissolution in all other cases.
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Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) is not considered a liquidating distribution under Nevada law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 11.380 of the NRS, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors against stockholders could be three years after the plaintiff knew or should have known the underlying facts.
Provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation and Nevada law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our shares of common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include:
| · | the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities; |
| · | a staggered board of directors; and |
| · | the fact that prior to the completion of our initial business combination only holders of our founder shares, which have been issued to our sponsor, are entitled to vote on the appointment of directors. |
All of these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Nevada law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation and Nevada law may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will require, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for any or all actions, suits, proceedings, whether civil, administrative or investigative or that asserts any claim or counterclaim, (a) brought in the name or right of our company or on our behalf; (b) asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of our company to us or our stockholders; (c) arising or asserting a claim pursuant to any provision of Chapters 78 or 92A of the NRS or any provision of our amended and restated articles of incorporation or bylaws; (d) to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our amended and restated articles of incorporation or bylaws; or (e) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In the event that the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada does not have jurisdiction over any such action, then any other state district court located in the State of Nevada shall be the exclusive forum for such action. In the event that no state district court in the State of Nevada has jurisdiction over any such action, then a federal court located within the State of Nevada shall be the exclusive forum for such action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that this exclusive provision forum will not apply to suits arising under (i) the Exchange Act or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) the Securities Act.
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Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Nevada law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court (either in the State of Nevada or otherwise) may determine that this provision is either unenforceable or inapplicable to a particular claim due to choice-of-law considerations. To the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Risks Relating to Completing a Business Combination
Because we are neither limited to evaluating a target business in a particular industry sector nor have we selected any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
Our efforts to identify a prospective initial business combination target will not be limited to a particular industry, sector or geographic region. While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any industry or sector, we intend to capitalize on the ability of our management team to identify, acquire and operate a business or businesses that can benefit from our management team’s established global relationships and operating experience. Our management team has extensive experience in identifying and executing strategic investments globally and has done so successfully in a number of sectors. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation prohibit us from effectuating a business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence.
Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders or rights holders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or rights holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
Past performance by our management team and their affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team or businesses associated with them is presented for informational purposes only. The past performance of our management team or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either: (i) success with respect to any business combination we may consummate; or (ii) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their respective affiliates’ performance as indicative of any future performance.
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Involvement of members of our management and companies with which they are affiliated in civil disputes and litigation or governmental investigations unrelated to our business affairs could materially impact our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
Members of our management team and companies with which they are affiliated have been, and in the future will continue to be, involved in a wide variety of business affairs, including transactions, such as sales and purchases of businesses, and ongoing operations. As a result of such involvement, members of our management and companies with which they are affiliated in past have been, and may in the future continue to be, involved in civil disputes and litigation and governmental investigations relating to their business affairs unrelated to our company which may progress. Given our management’s extensive involvement in financial services, asset management, insurance and other regulated industries, those civil disputes, litigation and governmental investigations could involve FINRA, SEC and/or state regulatory bodies and could result in settlements where parties are named publicly. Any such claims, investigations or settlements may be detrimental to our reputation and could negatively affect our ability to identify and complete an initial business combination and may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
We may seek business combination opportunities in industries or sectors that may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.
We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s areas of expertise if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive business combination opportunity for our company. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue a business combination outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to ascertain or assess adequately all of the relevant risk factors. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our rights will expire worthless.
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We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from a valuation or appraisal firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity or our board of directors cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses (including with the assistance of financial advisors), we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or from a valuation or appraisal firm that the price we are paying is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may issue additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Immediately after this offering, there will be 89,762,500 (assuming that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option and the forfeiture of 300,000 founder shares) authorized but unissued shares of common stock, available for issuance which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon conversion of outstanding rights. Immediately after this offering, there will be no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. However, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or (y) amend the foregoing provisions. These provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock:
| · | may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering; |
| · | may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock; |
| · | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and |
| · | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, common stock and/or rights. |
We may issue shares of our common stock to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than the prevailing market price of our of common stock at that time.
In connection with our initial business combination, we may issue shares of common stock to investors in private placement transactions (so-called PIPE transactions) at a price of $10.00 per share, or at a price which approximates the per-share amounts in our trust account at such time, which is generally approximately $10.00. The purpose of such issuances will be to enable us to provide sufficient liquidity to the post-business combination entity and to complete the business combination. Such arrangements result in costs particular to the business combination process that would not generally be incurred in a traditional IPO. Such agreements may be structured in a way intended to ensure a return on investment to the investor in return for funds facilitating the completion of the business combination. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time. If we are not able to secure such financing and there are significant redemption from our trust account, it is possible that we might not be able to complete an initial business combination.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and holders of our $15 Exercise Price Warrants, private units, Underwriter Units and EarlyBird Units may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our shares of common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the shares of common stock into which founder shares are convertible, holders of our private placement securities and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the private placement securities and the common stock issuable upon exercise of the $15 Exercise Price, holders of units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such units or the underlying securities issuable upon conversion of such units and holders of the Underwriter Units and the EarlyBird Units can demand, as applicable, that we register the Underwriter Shares and the EarlyBird Shares, the Underwriter Rights, the EarlyBird Rights and the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Rights and the EarlyBird Rights.
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We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our common stock that is expected when the shares of common stock owned by our initial stockholders, holders of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, holders of the private shares, holders of the private rights, holders of the Underwriter Units, holders of the EarlyBird Units or holders of our working capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
Resources could be wasted in researching business combinations that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our rights will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our rights will expire worthless.
We are dependent upon our executive officers and directors and their loss could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors and our senior advisor. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our executive officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
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Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination, and a particular business combination may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with our company after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the closing of the business combination. Such negotiations also could make such key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, subject to their fiduciary duties under Nevada law.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business which may affect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target business’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target business’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders or rights holders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon the completion of our initial business combination. The loss of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.
Our executive officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our executive officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our executive officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our executive officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities. Certain of our directors and officers formed and are also actively engaged in FG Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company that are in the process of completing its initial business combination as of the date of this prospectus, and FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisition companies that are in the process of completing its initial public offering as of the date of this prospectus, and may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target and determining whether an identified target is appropriate for us, FG Acquisition Corp. or FG Merger III Corp. If our executive officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our executive officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see “Management — Officers and Directors.”
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Our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the closing of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, including other special purpose acquisition companies. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Certain of our directors and officers formed and are also actively engaged in FG Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company that is in the process of completing its initial business combination as of the date of this prospectus, and FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisition companies that are in the process of completing its initial public offering as of the date of this prospectus. In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination.
However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
For a complete discussion of our executive officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see “Management — Officers and Directors,” “Management — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our executive officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or executive officers, although we do not intend to do so. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest. If this were the case, it would be a breach of their fiduciary duties to us as a matter of Nevada law and we or our stockholders might have a claim against such individuals for infringing on our stockholders’ rights. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.
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We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, executive officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders. Our directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no substantive discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business — Business Combination Criteria” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers, directors or existing holders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Since our sponsor, executive officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to public shares they may acquire during or after this offering), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On October 6, 2023, our sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain of our offering costs in exchange for 2,156,250 founder shares, or approximately $0.012 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by the sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. On October 18, 2023, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 465,000 founder shares to members of the Company's management,board of directors and senior advisors, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,691,250 founder shares. On [_], 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share, or an aggregate of 143,750 founder shares (the “Dividend Shares”), resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares. On [_], 2024, our directors, officers and senior advisors transferred 31,000 Dividend Shares to the sponsor. On [_], 2024, the sponsor transferred an aggregate of 150,000 founder shares to officers of the Company, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,685,000 founder shares. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued.
The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants or the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Up to 300,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited by the sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed to purchase 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants that will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed to purchase an aggregate of 190,000 private units, consisting of one private share and one private right, that will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination. Our initial stockholders and members of our board of directors could make a substantial profit (approximately $18,750,000 with respect to the founder shares if the founder shares were to be sold at $10.00 per share and assuming the underwriters do not exercise their overallotment option) after the initial business combination even if public investors experience substantial losses and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our executive officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the 24 month anniversary of the closing of this offering nears, which is the deadline for our completion of an initial business combination.
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We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We and our officers have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
| · | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; |
| · | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
| · | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand; |
| · | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding; |
| · | our inability to pay dividends on our common stock; |
| · | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
| · | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
| · | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and |
| · | limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.
The net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities will provide us with $80,141,500 (or $92,021,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use to complete our initial business combination.
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We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
| · | solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or |
| · | dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our business combination strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post- transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s shares than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain control of the target business.
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Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that the proxy statement with respect to the vote on an initial business combination include historical and pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders or rights holders do not agree.
Our proposed initial business combination may impose a minimum cash requirement for: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or any of their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares in connection with such initial business combination, all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, special purpose acquisition companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments, including their rights agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that our stockholders may not support.
In order to effectuate a business combination, special purpose acquisition companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments, including their rights agreements. For example, special purpose acquisition companies have amended the definition of business combination and increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination. Amending our amended and restated articles of incorporation will require the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the rights or any provision of the rights agreement, 50% of the number of the then outstanding rights. In addition, our amended and restated articles of incorporation requires us to provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we propose an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months of the closing of this offering or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. To the extent any of such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of the securities offered through this registration statement, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination. If we seek to extend the time to consummate an initial business combination, we will be required to offer our stockholders the right to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account in connection with a stockholder vote relating to such extension. We cannot assure you that if we seek such extension that we will be able to maintain our NASDAQ listing following such redemptions.
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The provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other special purpose acquisition companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation to facilitate the closing of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that any of its provisions related to pre- business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placements of $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the private units into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. If we amend such provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) in connection with a stockholder meeting (regardless of whether a stockholder votes on the proposed amendment and regardless of whether a stockholder votes for, votes against, or abstains with respect to the proposed amendment, if the stockholder elects to vote). In all other instances, our amended and restated articles of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the NRS or applicable stock exchange rules. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the shares of common stock underlying the public rights, the Underwriter Units, the EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, and units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation which govern our pre- business combination behavior more easily than some other special purpose acquisition companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated articles of incorporation.
Our initial stockholders, executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to written agreements with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor, executive officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
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Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Each of the agreements related to this offering to which we are a party, other than the rights agreement and the investment management trust agreement, may be amended without stockholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the letter agreement among us and our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers, directors and holders of the Underwriter Units; the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders; the $15 Exercise Price Warrants purchase agreement between us and our sponsor; the private units purchase agreement between us and our sponsor; and the administrative services agreement among us, our sponsor and an affiliate of our sponsor. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example, our letter agreement and the underwriting agreement contain certain lock-up provisions with respect to the founder shares, $15 Exercise Price Warrants, private units and other securities held by our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors. Amendments to such agreements would require the consent of the applicable parties thereto and would need to be approved by our board of directors, which may do so for a variety of reasons, including to facilitate our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement. Any amendment entered into in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to such initial business combination, and any other material amendment to any of our material agreements will be disclosed in a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities. For example, amendments to the lock-up provision discussed above may result in our initial stockholders selling their securities earlier than they would otherwise be permitted, which may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
We have not selected any specific business combination target but intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities. As a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemption by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all.
To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. Further, we may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the completion of our initial business combination for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post- transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, or to fund the purchase of other companies. These financing transactions are designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing stockholders. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company, and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, and our rights will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Our initial stockholders control a substantial interest in us and thus may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of this offering, our initial stockholders will own 20% of our issued and outstanding common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the shares of common stock underlying the public rights, the Underwriter Units, the EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the units issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans). Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated articles of incorporation. If our initial stockholders purchase any units in this offering or if our initial stockholders purchase any additional common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control.
Neither our initial stockholders nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this prospectus. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our common stock. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by our sponsor, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a terms for three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the closing of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert substantial influence at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
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We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with 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), or ultimately prohibited.
The Sponsor is not controlled by and it does not have substantial ties with a non-U.S. person. [_], the manager of the Sponsor, is a U.S. citizen. We do not expect the Company to be considered a “foreign person” under the regulations administered by CFIUS. However, if our initial business combination with a U.S. business is subject to CFIUS review, the scope of which was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business, FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our stockholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our initial business combination. If we cannot complete our initial business combination by the time specified in our amended and restated articles of incorporation because the review process drags on beyond such timeframe or because our initial business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive an amount per share that will be determined by when we liquidate, and our rights will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
The Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 may decrease the value of our securities following our initial business combination and hinder our ability to consummate an initial business combination and decrease the amount of funds available for distribution in connection with a liquidation.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”), subject to certain exceptions. If applicable, the amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the aggregate fair market value of any stock repurchased by the corporation during a taxable year, net of the aggregate fair market value of certain new stock issuances by the repurchasing corporation during the same taxable year. The Biden administration has proposed increasing the Excise Tax rate from 1% to 4%; however, it is unclear whether such a change will be enacted and, if enacted, how soon it could take effect.
Because we are a Nevada corporation and our securities will trade on Nasdaq following the date of this prospectus, we will be subject to the Excise Tax with respect to any redemptions (including redemptions in connection with an extension vote or the initial business combination). Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination, extension vote or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a business combination (including the timing of any domestication), (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination) and (iv) the content of final regulations and other additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”). On June 28, 2024, the Treasury finalized certain of the proposed regulations (those relating to procedures for reporting and paying the Excise Tax). The remaining regulations (largely relating to the computation of the Excise Tax) remain in proposed form. The Treasury intends to finalize these proposed regulations at a later date and, until such time, taxpayers may continue to rely on the proposed regulations.
Any Excise Tax that becomes payable as a result of any redemptions of our common stock (or other shares into which such common stock may be converted) would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder. To the extent the Excise Tax is applicable, the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or to transfer to the target business in connection with our initial business combination may be reduced, which could result in our inability to meet conditions in the agreement relating to our initial business combination related to a minimum cash requirement, if any, or otherwise result in the shareholders of the combined company (including any of our shareholders who do not exercise their redemption rights in connection with the initial business combination) to economically bear the impact of the Excise Tax. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets. Finally, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our complete liquidation.
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In addition, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets, and thus, potentially hinder our ability to enter into and consummate an initial business combination, particularly an initial business combination in which substantial PIPE issuances are not contemplated.
On December 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of Treasury released Notice 2023-2, which provides taxpayers with interim guidance on the Excise Tax that may be relied upon until the IRS issues proposed Treasury regulations on such matter. Furthermore, Notice 2023-2 includes as one of its many exceptions to the Excise Tax, a distribution in complete liquidation of a “covered corporation” to which Section 331 of the Code applies (so long as Section 332(a) of the Code also does not apply). Consequently, we would not expect the Excise Tax to apply if there is a complete liquidation of our public shares under Section 331 of the Code. Nonetheless, we are not permitted to use the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon to pay any excise taxes or any other similar fees or taxes in nature that may be imposed on the company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due imposed under the Inflation Reduction Act on any redemptions or stock buybacks by our company.
Recent increases in inflation in the United States and elsewhere could make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
Recent increases in inflation in the United States and elsewhere may lead to increased price volatility for publicly traded securities, including ours, or other national, regional or international economic disruptions, any of which could make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
Risks Relating to Our Securities
Our sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 to cover certain of our offering costs in exchange for 2,300,000 founder shares, or approximately $0.01 per founder share and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our shares of common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the share of common stock and none to the rights included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our initial stockholders acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of this offering, and assuming no value is ascribed to the rights included in the units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the EarlyBird Units or the Underwriter Units and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 99.16% or $9.916 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering of $0.08 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. our common stock
The determination of the offering price of our units, the size of this offering and terms of the units is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of our units properly reflects the value of such units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the rights were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the common stock and rights underlying the units, include:
| · | the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies; |
| · | prior offerings of those companies; |
| · | our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values; |
| · | a review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions; |
| · | our capital structure; |
| · | an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; |
| · | general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and |
| · | other factors as were deemed relevant. |
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering size, price and terms of the units is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
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Our rights agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our rights, which could limit the ability of rights holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our rights agreement will provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the rights agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the rights agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our rights shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our rights agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the rights agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our rights, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such rights holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such rights holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such rights holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a rights holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our rights agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
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Our $15 Exercise Price Warrants and rights may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares of common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing rights that will result in the issuance of up to 400,000 shares of common stock as part of the units offered by this prospectus and private rights, Underwriter Rights and EarlyBird Rights that will result in the issuance of an additional 11,875 shares of common stock. Simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing in a private placement an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants. The potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon exercise or conversion of the foregoing securities could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when exercised or converted, will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, these securities may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying these securities could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If and to the extent these securities are exercised or converted, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
Holders of rights will not have redemption rights.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the funds held in the trust account, the rights will expire and holders will not receive any of the amounts held in the trust account in exchange for such rights.
We have no obligation to net cash settle the rights.
In no event will we have any obligation to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
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General Risk Factors
NASDAQ may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our common stock and rights on or promptly after their date of separation. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in NASDAQ’s listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on NASDAQ in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on NASDAQ prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Generally, based on Nasdaq Global Market’s current listing standards, we must maintain a minimum market value of listed securities of $50,000,000 and a minimum number of 400 holders of our listed securities. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq Global Market’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq Global Market’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq Global Market. For instance, based on Nasdaq Global Market’s current listing standards, our stock price would be required to be at least $4.00 per share, the market value of our listed securities would be required to be at least $75 million (or we would need to satisfy certain stockholders’ equity or total assets and total revenue requirements) and we would be required to have a minimum of 400 round lot holders of our securities (with at least 50% of such round lot holders holding securities with a market value of at least $2,500). We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| · | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
| · | reduced liquidity for our securities; |
| · | a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities; |
| · | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| · | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our common stock and rights will be listed on NASDAQ, our units, common stock and rights will qualify as covered securities under the statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on NASDAQ, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under the statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
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Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an initial business combination.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2023. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
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Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company located outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may adversely affect us.
If we pursue a target company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such initial business combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If we pursue a target company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign jurisdiction, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
| · | costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations; |
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| · | rules and regulations regarding currency redemption; |
| · | complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
| · | laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected; |
| · | exchange listing and/or delisting requirements; |
| · | tariffs and trade barriers; |
| · | regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
| · | local or regional economic policies and market conditions; |
| · | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; |
| · | challenges in managing and staffing international operations; |
| · | longer payment cycles; |
| · | tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States; |
| · | currency fluctuations and exchange controls; |
| · | rates of inflation; |
| · | challenges in collecting accounts receivable; |
| · | cultural and language differences; |
| · | employment regulations; |
| · | underdeveloped or unpredictable legal or regulatory systems; |
| · | corruption; |
| · | protection of intellectual property; |
| · | social unrest, crime, strikes, riots and civil disturbances; |
| · | regime changes and political upheaval; |
| · | terrorist attacks and wars; and |
| · | deterioration of political relations with the United States. |
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We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete such initial business combination, or, if we complete such initial business combination, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained in this prospectus may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
| ● | our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses; | |
| ● | our ability to complete our initial business combination; | |
| ● | our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses; | |
| ● | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; | |
| ● | 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; | |
| ● | our potential ability to obtain additional financing 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 business combination opportunities; | |
| ● | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; | |
| ● | the lack of a market for our securities; | |
| ● | the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; | |
| ● | the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; or | |
| ● | our financial performance following this offering. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors”. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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We are offering 8,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private placement securities will be used as set forth in the following table.
| Without Over-allotment Option |
Over-allotment Option Exercised |
|||||||
| Gross proceeds | ||||||||
| Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1) | $ | 80,000,000 | $ | 92,000,000 | ||||
| Gross proceeds from private placement | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | ||||||
| Total gross proceeds | $ | 82,000,000 | $ | 94,000,000 | ||||
| Estimated offering expenses(2) | ||||||||
| Underwriting commissions (excluding units payable to the underwriters at the closing of this offering)(3) | $ | 750,000 | $ | 870,000 | ||||
| Other underwriter expenses, including legal | 135,000 | 135,000 | ||||||
| EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. advisory fee (7) | 250,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
| Legal fees and expenses | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 30,000 | 30,000 | ||||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 39,000 | 39,000 | ||||||
| SEC/FINRA Expenses | 30,000 | 30,000 | ||||||
| Transfer agent fees | 7,500 | 7,500 | ||||||
| NASDAQ listing and filing fees | 80,000 | 80,000 | ||||||
| Directors and officers insurance | 312,000 | 312,000 | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | 25,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
| Total offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) | $ | 1,108,500 | $ | 1,978,500 | ||||
| Proceeds after estimated offering expenses | $ | 80,141,500 | $ | 92,021,500 | ||||
| Held in trust account(4) | $ | 80,000,000 | $ | 92,000,000 | ||||
| % of public offering size | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||||
| Not held in trust account | $ | 141,500 | $ | 21,500 | ||||
The following table shows the use of the approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if over-allotment option is exercised in full) of net proceeds not held in the trust account and up to $1,000,000 we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account(5)(8).
| Without
Over-allotment Option | Over-allotment
Option Exercised | |||||||||||||||
| Amount | % of Total | Amount | % of Total | |||||||||||||
| Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination(6) | $ | 577,500 | 50.59 | 457,500 | 44.790 | |||||||||||
| Financial reporting | 64,000 | 561 | 64,000 | 6.27 | ||||||||||||
| NASDAQ listing and filing fees | 140,000 | 12.26 | 140,000 | 13.71 | ||||||||||||
| Payment for office space, secretarial and administrative services (up to 24 months) | 360,000 | 31.54 | 360,000 | 35.24 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,141,500 | 100.0 | 1,021,500 | 100.0 | |||||||||||
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| (1) | Includes gross proceeds from this offering of $80,000,000 (or $92,000,000 if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full). Also reflects the amount payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination. |
| (2) | A portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the proceeds of loans from our sponsor of up to $150,000 as described in this prospectus. These loans will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised) of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses other than underwriting commissions. In the event that offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, they will be repaid using a portion of the $141,500 of offering proceeds not held in the trust account and set aside for post-closing working capital expenses, and the amount we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000) from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account. In the event that offering expenses are less than set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. |
| (3) | The underwriter will be entitled to an underwriting discount equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the gross proceeds of this offering and (ii) an amount equal to $750,000 plus 1% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the over-allotment units. In addition, the underwriters will receive units equaling 0.5% of the units sold in this offering, or 40,000 units, at the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, an additional 6,000 units will be issued to the underwriters. See “Underwriting”. |
| (4) | The funds held in the trust account, less amounts released to the trustee to pay redeeming stockholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our initial business combination occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our initial business combination, to fund the purchases of other companies or for working capital. |
| (5) | These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our initial business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify a business combination target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account. The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. This table assumes that the trust account will earn sufficient interest to withdraw funds from the trsut account for working capital purposes. We estimate the interest earned on the trust account (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option) will be approximately $[_] per year, assuming an interest rate of [_]% per year; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount. |
| (6) | Includes estimated amounts that may also be used in connection with our initial business combination to fund a “no shop” provision and commitment fees for financing. |
| (7) | EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as a financial advisor to the Company and will receive a fee of $250,000 and 7,500 EarlyBird Units at the closing of this offering. |
| (8) | Includes $1,000,000 of the interest from the funds held in the trust account. The Company is permitted to withdraw $1,000,000 from interest earned on the funds in the trust account on an annual basis under the trust agreement for working capital purposes. Accordingly, to the extent such funds are available, the Company would be permitted to withdraw an additional $2,000,000 from interest earned on the funds in the trust account during the 24 months following the closing of this offering. |
The rules of NASDAQ provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities be deposited in a trust account. Of the $82,000,000 in gross proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities described in this prospectus, or $94,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, $80,000,000, or $92,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (approximately $10.00 per unit in each case), will be deposited into a trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, after deducting $750,000 (or $870,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in underwriting commissions payable upon the closing of this offering and an aggregate of $1,250,000 (or $1,130,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following this offering. The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We estimate the interest earned on the trust account (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option) will be approximately $[_] per year, assuming an interest rate of [_]% per year; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount.
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We expect that the interest earned on the trust account will be sufficient to pay income taxes. We will not be permitted to withdraw any of the principal or interest held in the trust account, except for the withdrawal of interest (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually), and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations, until the earliest of (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity.
The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop arrangements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. However, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that, following this offering and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will be prohibited from issuing additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on any initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or (y) amend the foregoing provisions.
We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective business combination, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of a business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates, but such persons are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
Subsequent to the closing of this offering, we will pay our sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team. Upon the completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $150,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of the closing of this offering or the date on which the company determines not to conduct the offering described herein. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised) of offering proceeds that has been allocated to the payment of offering expenses.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
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We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the shares of common stock underlying the private units, or the shares of common stock underlying the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
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The difference between the public offering price per share of common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the rights included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus, the private units or the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common shares after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated exercise of rights and $15 Exercise Price Warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share (“NTBV”) is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of common shares which may be redeemed for cash), as adjusted to reflect various potential redemption levels that may occur in connection with the closing of our initial business combination, by the number of outstanding common shares.
As of June 30, 2024, our net tangible book value was $21,036, or approximately $0.009 per common share. Assuming no redemptions, after giving effect to the sale of 8,000,000 common shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (or 9,200,000 common shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), the private placements of private units , the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the EarlyBird Units and the Underwriter Units and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at June 30, 2024 would have been $80,162,536 or $7.833 per share (or $92,042,536 or $7.840 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), assuming the max redemption, representing an immediate decrease in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of 8,000,000 common shares that may be redeemed for cash, or 9,200,000 common shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of $0.009 per share (or $(0.011 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to our initial stockholders as of the date of this prospectus. Total dilution to public stockholders from this offering will be $9.916 per share (or $9.994 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).
The following tables illustrate the dilution to the public stockholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the rights included in the units, the private units, or the $15 Exercise Price Warrants:
| No exercise of over-allotment option | No Redemption |
25% of Maximum Redemptions |
50% of Maximum Redemptions |
75% of Maximum Redemptions |
Maximum Redemptions |
|||||||||||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||
| Net tangible book value before this offering | 0.009 | 0.009 | 0.009 | 0.009 | 0.009 | |||||||||||||||
| Decrease attributable to public stockholders and sale of the units | 7.824 | 7.297 | 6.434 | 4.755 | 0.075 | |||||||||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering | 7.833 | 7.306 | 6.443 | 4.764 | 0.084 | |||||||||||||||
| Dilution to public stockholders | $ | 2.167 | $ | 2.694 | $ | 3.557 | $ | 5.236 | $ | 9.916 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of dilution to public stockholders | 21.7 | % | 26.9 | % | 35.6 | % | 52.4 | % | 99.2 | % | ||||||||||
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| Full exercise of over-allotment option | No Redemption |
25% of Maximum Redemptions |
50% of Maximum Redemptions |
75% of Maximum Redemptions |
Maximum Redemptions |
|||||||||||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||
| Net tangible book value before this offering | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | |||||||||||||||
| Decrease attributable to public stockholders and sale of the units | 7.829 | 5.871 | 3.912 | 1.954 | -0.005 | |||||||||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering | 7.840 | 5.882 | 3.923 | 1.965 | 0.006 | |||||||||||||||
| Dilution to public stockholders | $ | 2.160 | $ | 4.118 | $ | 6.077 | $ | 8.035 | $ | 9.994 | ||||||||||
| Percentage of dilution to public stockholders | 21.6 | % | 41.2 | % | 60.8 | % | 80.4 | % | 99.9 | % | ||||||||||
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $75,000,000 because holders of up to approximately 100% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two business days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations), divided by the number of shares of common stock sold in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
| Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | Average Price Per Share |
||||||||||||||||
| Initial Stockholders(1) | 2,000,000 | 19.63 | % | $ | 25,000 | 0.03 | % | $ | 0.0125 | |||||||||||
| Private Shares | 190,000 | 1.87 | % | 1,900,000 | 2.32 | % | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||||
| Public Stockholders | 8,000,000 | 78.51 | % | 80,000,000 | 97.65 | % | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||||
| 10,190,100 | 100.00 | % | $ | 81,925,000 | 100.00 | % | ||||||||||||||
(1) Assumes that 300,000 founder shares are forfeited after the closing of this offering in the event the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.
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The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
| No exercise of over-allotment option | No Redemption | 25%
of Maximum Redemptions | 50%
of Maximum Redemptions | 75%
of Maximum Redemptions | Maximum Redemptions | |||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book deficit before this offering | 21,036 | 21,036 | 21,036 | 21,036 | 21,036 | |||||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement securities, net of expenses(1) | 80,141,500 | 80,141,500 | 80,141,500 | 80,141,500 | 80,141,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption(2) | - | (20,000,000 | ) | (40,000,000 | ) | (60,000,000 | ) | (80,000,000 | ) | |||||||||||
| 80,162,536 | 60,162,536 | 40,162,536 | 20,162,536 | 162,536 | ||||||||||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common shares issued and outstanding prior to this offering | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised | (300,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||||||||
| Common shares included in the units offered | 8,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 8,000,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common shares included in the private units | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common shares included in the underwriter units | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common shares included in the advisor units | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Shares subject to redemption | - | (2,000,000 | ) | (4,000,000 | ) | (6,000,000 | ) | (8,000,000 | ) | |||||||||||
| 10,237,500 | 8,237,500 | 6,237,500 | 4,237,500 | 2,237,500 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $1,108,500 and underwriting commissions of $750,000 (excluding units payable to the underwriters at the closing of this offering). See “Use of Proceeds.”
(2) If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of shares of common stock subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. See “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.”
| Full exercise of over-allotment option | No Redemption | 25%
of Maximum Redemptions | 50%
of Maximum Redemptions | 75%
of Maximum Redemptions | Maximum Redemptions | |||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book deficit before this offering | 21,036 | 21,036 | 21,036 | 21,036 | 21,036 | |||||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement securities, net of expenses(1) | 92,021,500 | 92,021,500 | 92,021,500 | 92,021,500 | 92,021,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption(2) | - | (23,000,000 | ) | (46,000,000 | ) | (69,000,000 | ) | (92,000,000 | ) | |||||||||||
| 92,042,536 | 69,042,536 | 46,042,536 | 23,042,536 | 42,536 | ||||||||||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares issued and outstanding prior to this offering | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,300,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares included in the units offered | 9,200,000 | 9,200,000 | 9,200,000 | 9,200,000 | 9,200,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares included in the private units | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common shares included in the underwriter units | 46,000 | 46,000 | 46,000 | 46,000 | 46,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common shares included in the advisor units | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Shares subject to redemption | - | (2,300,000 | ) | (4,600,000 | ) | (6,900,000 | ) | (9,200,000 | ) | |||||||||||
| 11,743,500 | 9,443,500 | 7,143,500 | 4,843,500 | 2,543.500 | ||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $1,108,500 and underwriting commissions of $870,000 (excluding units payable to the underwriters at the closing of this offering). See “Use of Proceeds.” |
| (2) | If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of shares of common stock subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. See “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.” |
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The following table sets forth our capitalization at June 30, 2024, and as adjusted to give effect to the filing of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, the sale of our 8,000,000 units in this offering for $80,000,000 (or $10.00 per Unit) and the sale of 190,000 private units for $1,900,000 (or $10.00 per unit) and 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants for $100,000 (or $0.10 per warrant) and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option:
| June 30, 2024 | ||||||||
| Actual | As Adjusted(3) | |||||||
| Notes payable to related party(1) | $ | 125,000 | $ | — | ||||
| Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value, 0 and 4,000,000 shares authorized, 0 issued and outstanding. | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock subject to possible redemption, 0 shares actual and 8,000,000 shares as adjusted(2) | $ | — | $ | 80,000,000 | ||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 and 100,000,000 shares authorized, 2,156,250 and 2,237,500 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively (excluding 0 and 8,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as adjusted, respectively(4) | $ | 216 | $ | 224 | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | $ | 24,784 | $ | 166,276 | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | $ | (3,964 | ) | $ | (3,964 | ) | ||
| Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 21,036 | $ | 162,536 | ||||
| Total capitalization | $ | 146,036 | $ | 80,162,536 | ||||
(1) Our sponsor may loan us up to $150,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the repayment of any loans made under this note out of the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement securities. As of June 30, 2024, we had borrowed $125,000 under the promissory note.
(2) Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
(3) Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of founder shares and as adjusted amount assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and forfeiture of an aggregate of 300,000 founder shares.
(4) On [August 19], 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on September 20, 2023, as a Nevada corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us. We may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry or geographic region. We intend to focus our search for an initial business combination on companies within the financial services industry in North America. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement securities, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including any cash received from the sale of common stock pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing.
The issuance of additional shares in connection with a business combination to the owners of the target or other investors:
| ● | may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering; | |
| ● | may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock; | |
| ● | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; | |
| ● | may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and | |
| ● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock and/or rights. | |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or the owners of a target, it could result in:
| ● | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; | |
| ● | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; | |
| ● | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand; |
| ● | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding; | |
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| ● | our inability to pay dividends on our common stock; | |
| ● | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; | |
| ● | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; | |
| ● | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and | |
| ● | limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
We expect to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the closing of this offering through the payment by our sponsor of $25,000 to cover certain of our offering costs in exchange for the issuance of the founder shares to our sponsor and $150,000 in loan from our sponsor of which $125,000 has been drawn.
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the units in this offering, the sale of the private units for an aggregate purchase price of $1,900,000 and the sale of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised) and underwriting commissions of $750,000 (or $870,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $80,141,500 (or $92,021,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). $80,000,000 (or $92,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. The remaining approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if over-allotment option is exercised in full) will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised), we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account and the amount we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000) from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised), the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay our taxes. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our income taxes. To the extent that our equity or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
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Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us the approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if over-allotment option is exercised in full) of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds, and the amount we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000) from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, to primarily identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business prior to our initial business combination. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We expect our primary liquidity requirements during that period to include approximately $577,500 (or $457,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting successful business combinations; $64,000 for accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; $140,000 for NASDAQ listing and filing fees; and $360,000 for administrative services provided by our sponsor and/or its affiliates (for up to 24 months), including for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team subsequent to the closing of this offering. We expect to be able to pay for such expenses out of the approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if over-allotment option is exercised in full) of net proceeds not held in the trust account and up to $1,000,000 we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account. We estimate the interest earned on the trust account (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option) will be approximately $[_] per year, assuming an interest rate of [_]% per year; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount.
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination.
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Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon the closing of the business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Underwriter Units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the completion of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity- linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer an emerging growth company would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor has our independent registered public accounting firm tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
| ● | staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties; | |
| ● | reconciliation of accounts; | |
| ● | proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate; | |
| ● | evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions; | |
| ● | documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and | |
| ● | documentation of accounting policies and procedures. |
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Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expenses in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent registered public accounting firm to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The independent registered public accounting firm may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of June 30, 2024, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have not conducted any operations to date.
JOBS Act
The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non- emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the independent registered public accounting firm’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the closing of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
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General
We are a newly organized blank check company formed as a Nevada corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Throughout this prospectus we will refer to this as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We intend to prioritize combinations where we see significant opportunity for attractive risk adjusted investor returns driven by the dynamics of a public listing. Although we will not limit our search to any particular geography or industry, we will concentrate our efforts on identifying businesses in the financial services industry in North America. We believe we can capitalize on the network and ability of our management team to identify, acquire, and manage a business. We intend to find a combination that can benefit from our experience, support infrastructure, and differentiated global network.
We will not constrain our search to specific industries or geographies. Our team has experience and contacts in many different industries within and outside financial services. If we find a quality combination in an industry outside of financial services, we may choose to pursue that combination.
Business Strategy
The transformation from privately held to publicly listed can be a catalyst for acceleration in value creation for a company and its stockholders. Access to public market capital, PIPE investments, public company status, and the currency of publicly traded shares are a few of the many benefits this transformation creates. Quality management teams utilize these benefits to drive value creation. We will prioritize our search to find targets that we believe will derive an acceleration in value creation and attractive returns from these benefits.
Potential targets exhibit a broad range of business models and financial characteristics. From innovative and/or disruptive, high growth companies, to mature businesses with recurring revenues, solid profitability, and strong cash flows. We will seek to acquire established businesses that we believe are fundamentally sound and would benefit from a public listing. We will prioritize our search where we believe our financial, operational, technological, strategic and/or managerial expertise can maximize value.
Successful innovation and/or disruption can bring outsized growth and consolidation opportunities as new products and services are adopted by the marketplace. Opportunities for successful innovation can exist in both mature organizations and earlier-stage companies. We will look at earlier-stage companies that exhibit the potential to change the industries in which they participate, and which offer the potential of sustained high levels of revenue growth with an articulated path to profitability. We will also look for mature organizations in a broader group of sectors that are experiencing changes in this new era of the American business landscape.
While we will not limit our search to any business segment, we will focus on financial services. Our team has significant experience in operating and investing in successful financial services companies. We believe we are well positioned to develop a compelling opportunity set of potential merger targets.
Key industry characteristics include potential or historical long-term organic growth, growth through consolidation, and attractive competitive dynamics. Key business characteristics include a strong management team, high barriers to entry, and public market-ready scale. Key financial metrics include revenue growth, recurring revenues, and strong cash flow conversion.
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Consistent with our focus, we intend to target financial services businesses that have strong management teams, differentiated products or services, potential or historical growth and an identified pathway to long-term profitability. We believe that the extensive networks of our management team, board of directors and advisors will deliver access to a broad spectrum of opportunities across financial services and other sectors. In addition to any potential business candidates we may identify on our own, we anticipate that other target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
Our Management Team
We will seek to capitalize on the financial services experience and contacts of our management team. Our management team includes Larry Swets, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer, Hassan R. Baqar, our Chief Financial Officer, D. Kyle Cerminara, Andrew B. MCIntyre, Scott D. Wollney and Richard E. Govignon,members of our board of directors and Ndamukong Suh and M. Wesley Schrader , our Senior Advisor.
Our management team is comprised of finance and investment and merchant banking leaders with senior level transactional experience with a variety of experience and expertise in capital markets, asset management, financial product development, FinTech, insurance, InsureTech, entertainment, real estate, data and analytics, semiconductors, telecom, cleantech, healthcare, and oil and gas as well as experience as investors and entrepreneurs. Our management team has completed numerous going-public, mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions. Our team also has extensive experience in operating public and private financial services companies, serving on both public and private company boards of directors, including financial institutions and insurance companies, strong knowledge and experience in financial, legal and regulatory matters, initial public offerings, and private equity and venture capital.
We believe that these networks of contacts and relationships will provide us with an important source of potential initial business combination targets. In addition, we anticipate that target business candidates may be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity groups, investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. Upon the closing of this offering, members of our management team will communicate with these networks of relationships to articulate the parameters for our search for a target business and a potential business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing promising leads.
Larry G. Swets, Jr.
has served as our Chief Executive Officer since inception . Mr. Swets has over 25 years of experience within financial services encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Swets founded Itasca Financial LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2005 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Swets is founder and President of Itasca Golf Managers, Inc., a management services and advisory firm focused on the real estate and hospitality industries since August 2018. Mr. Swets serves as Chief Executive Officer and a director of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U) since October 2021, a special purpose acquisition Company seeking to complete an acquisition. Mr. Swets has served as Chief Executive Officer of FG Merger III Corp. since September 2023, a special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing its initial public offerings; and as Head of Merchant Banking of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) (Nasdaq: FGF) since February 2024. Mr. Swets is a member of the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry since June 2016, and Ascension Illinois Foundation since March 2018
Previously, Mr. Swets served as a director of FG Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: FGMCU), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with iCoreConnect Inc. (Nasdaq: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services, from February 2022 to August 2023, and as a director and Chief Executive Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit, from July 2020 to July 2021. Mr. Swets served as Senior Advisor to Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market, from April 2021 to December 2021. Mr. Swets also served as Chief Executive Officer of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) from November 2020 to February 2024, after having served as interim CEO from June 2020 to November 2020, Chief Executive Officer of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.) from June 2016 to June 2021, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) from July 2010 to September 2018, including as its President from July 2010 to March 2017. He served as Chief Executive Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp., a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB), from April 2014 to July 2016. He was also a founder and served as Chairman of the Board of Unbounded Media Corporation from June 2019 to September 2023. Mr. Swets also previously served as a member of the board of directors of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) from November 2013 to February 2024, FG Group Holdings, Inc. from October 2021 to February 2024, Harbor Custom Development, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCDI) from February 2020 to November 2023, Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB) from July 2016 to August 2021, Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) from September 2013 to December 2018, Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (OTC: AFHIF) from December 2010 to January 2018, FMG Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: FMGQ) from May 2007 to September 2008, United Insurance Holdings Corp. from 2008 to March 2012; and Risk Enterprise Management Ltd. from November 2007 to May 2012. Mr. Swets served as director of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd. from October 2017 to December 2021.
Prior to founding Itasca Financial LLC, Mr. Swets served as an insurance company executive and advisor, including the role of director of investments and fixed income portfolio manager for Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, formerly known as Kemper Insurance Companies. Mr. Swets began his career in insurance as an intern in the Kemper Scholar program in 1994. Mr. Swets earned a Master’s Degree in Finance from DePaul University in 1999 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Valparaiso University in 1997. He is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
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Hassan R. Baqar has served as our Chief Financial Officer since inception. Mr. Baqar has over 20 years of experience within financial services and other industries focused on corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, investments and real estate transactions. Mr. Baqar has served as the founder and managing member of Sequoia Financial LLC, a financial services and advisory firm, since January 2019. Mr. Baqar has also served as Chief Financial Officer of FG Merger III Corp, a special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing its initial public offerings, since September 2023, as Chief Financial Officer from August 2021 to February 2024 and Executive Vice President from December 2021 to February 2024 of Fundamental Global Inc. ( formerly FG Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGF)), which operates as a reinsurance and asset management holding company, as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition II Corp., a special purpose acquisition company in the process of going public and is focused on merging with a company in the InsureTech, FinTech, broader financial services and insurance sectors from February 2021 to October 2023, as Chief Financial Officer of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd., a former Bermuda based reinsurance company from October 2017 to December 2021, as a director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry from August 2019 to December 2021 and as Chief Financial Officer of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. from June 2016 to December 2020, as a director of FG Reinsurance Ltd., a Cayman Islands reinsurance company since June 2020, as director, treasurer and secretary of Sponsor Protection Coverage and Risk, Inc., a South Carolina captive insurance company since October 2022, and as a director and Chief Financial Officer of Unbounded Media Corporation from June 2019 to September 2023. Since October 2021, Mr. Baqar has also served as the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector.
Mr. Baqar served as a director of FG Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: FGMCU) from December 2021 to August 2023, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with iCoreconnect Inc. (Nasdaq: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services, and as Chief Financial Officer of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF) from January 2021 to December 2021, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. From July 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Baqar served as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Previously, he served as Vice President of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) (“Kingsway”) from January 2014 to January 2019 and as a Vice President of Kingsway’s subsidiary Kingsway America Inc. from January 2010 to January 2019. Mr. Baqar also served as Chief Financial Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp. from April 2014 to July 2016, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB). Mr. Baqar served as a member of the board of directors of FG Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF) from October 2012 to May 2015. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer of United Insurance Holdings Corp. (NYSE: UIHC), a publicly held property and casualty insurance holding company, from August 2011 to April 2012.
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His previous experience also includes director of finance at Itasca Financial, LLC from 2008 to 2009 and positions held at Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company (a Kemper Insurance company), a diversified mutual property-casualty insurance provider, from June 2000 to April 2008, where he most recently served as a senior analyst. Mr. Baqar earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern Illinois University in 2009 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Monmouth College in 2000. He also holds a Certified Public Accountant designation.
D. Kyle Cerminara has served as our Chairman since October 2023. Mr. Cerminara has over 20 years’ experience as an institutional investor, asset manager, director, chief executive, founder and operator of multiple financial services and technology businesses. Mr. Cerminara co-founded Fundamental Global in 2012 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Cerminara is a member of the board of directors of a number of companies focused in the reinsurance, asset management, technology and communication sectors, including Fundamental Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGF) (formerly known as FG Financial Group, Inc. and as 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.), which operates as a reinsurance and asset management company, since December 2016; Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE American: SGE), a leader in the entertainment industry providing mission critical products and services to cinema exhibitors and entertainment venues, since March 2022; and Firefly Systems Inc., a venture-backed digital advertising company, since August 2020. Mr. Cerminara has served as the Chairman and President since the founding of FG Communities, Inc. in July 2022. FG Communities is a corporation created to preserve and improve affordable housing through ownership and management of manufactured housing communities. Mr. Cerminara is the Chairman of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX:FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has entered an agreement to acquire Strong/MDI Screen Systems, Inc.
Mr. Cerminara served as a director of FG Group Holdings Inc., a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the entertainment and retail markets that merged with Fundamental Global, Inc. in February 2024, from February 2015 until February 2024; he served as its Chairman from May 2015 until February 2024; and he previously served as its Chief Executive Officer from November 2015 through April 2020. Mr. Cerminara has served as the Chairman of Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. since March 2022. Mr. Cerminara was appointed Chairman of Fundamental Global, Inc. in May 2018 and served as its Principal Executive Officer from March 2020 to June 2020, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since its merger with FG Group Holdings, Inc. in February 2024. Mr. Cerminara served as a director of BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American: BKTI) from July 2015 through December 2023, and served as its Chairman from July 2022 through December 2023 and previously from March 2017 until April 2020. From February 2022 to August 2023, Mr. Cerminara served as a Senior Advisor to FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. From April 2021 to December 2021, Mr. Cerminara served as a director of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company co-sponsored by Fundamental Global, which merged with Hagerty Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. From July 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Cerminara served as Director and President of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. He served on the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry, from June 2016 to October 2021 and was appointed Chairman from June 2018 to June 2021; Limbach Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMB), a company which provides building infrastructure services, from March 2019 to March 2020; Iteris, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI), a publicly-traded, applied informatics company, from August 2016 to November 2017; Magnetek, Inc., a publicly-traded manufacturer, in 2015; and blueharbor bank, a community bank, from October 2013 to January 2020. He served as a Trustee and President of StrongVest ETF Trust, which was an open-end management investment company, from July 2016 to March 2021. Previously, Mr. Cerminara served as the Co-Chief Investment Officer of CWA Asset Management Group, LLC, a position he held from January 2013 to December 2020.
Prior to these roles, Mr. Cerminara was a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management, an independent financial adviser, from 2011 to 2012, a Director and Sector Head of the Financials Industry at Highside Capital Management from 2009 to 2011, and a Portfolio Manager and Director at CR Intrinsic Investors from 2007 to 2009. Before joining CR Intrinsic Investors, Mr. Cerminara was a Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager and Analyst at T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW) from 2001 to 2007, where he was named amongst Institutional Investor’s Best of the Buy Side Analysts in November 2006, and an Analyst at Legg Mason from 2000 to 2001.
Mr. Cerminara received an MBA degree from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an NCAA Academic All American and Co-Captain of the men’s varsity tennis team. He also completed a China Executive Residency at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, China. Mr. Cerminara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
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Scott D. Wollney has served as our director since October 2023. Since March 30, 2015, Mr. Wollney has served as a director of Fundamental Global Inc. (“FGF”). Since December 2010, Mr. Wollney has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Atlas”) (OTC: AFHIF), a holding company whose business has been primarily specialty commercial automobile insurance. From July 2009 until December 2010, Mr. Wollney was President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway America Inc. (KAI), a property and casualty holding company and subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. From May 2008 to March 2009, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln General Insurance Company (a subsidiary of KAI), a property and casualty insurance company. Mr. Wollney co-founded Avalon Risk Management, Inc., an insurance broker, in 1998, and served as its President, from 2002 to 2008. Mr. Wollney has more than 30 years of experience in property and casualty insurance. During his tenure in the industry, Mr. Wollney has held executive positions at insurance companies and managing general agencies, as well as brokerage operations. Mr. Wollney is a MBA graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a concentration in finance and management strategy and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois
Dr. Richard E. Govignon, Jrwas appointed to the Board of Directors of FG Merger II Corp in October 2023. Dr. Govignon, 46, has been a Partner of Dnerus Financial, a family asset management company, since June 2021. Dr. Govignon is an experienced corporate director/trustee in the U.S. and Canada with broad exposure to numerous industries. Dr. Govignon serves as a director of the board of Fundamental Global Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF), a reinsurance and asset management holding company focused on collateralized and loss-capped reinsurance and merchant banking since December 2021. Dr. Govignon has been a director of Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SGE), a corporation focused on supplying screens and providing technical support services to the cinema exhibition industry, theme parks, and other entertainment-related markets since January 2022. Dr. Govignon also serves as a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a special purpose acquisition corporation (“SPAC”) incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia since April 2022. Dr. Govignon is also a member of the board of directors of B-Scada, Inc. (OTC: SCDA), a company developing software and hardware products since June 2021. Dr. Govignon served as a member of the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc. (TSXV: GFP), a public company focused on forest product investments, from January 2019 to December 2021. Dr. Govignon also served as a Trustee of the StrongVest ETF Trust (US: CWAI) that, invested in a diversified portfolio of corporate bonds with varying maturities and equity securities from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Govignon has worked in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry in various management and pharmacy positions for over 20 years, most recently with ShopRite Pharmacy since 2022 and previously with CVS Health Corporation (2022-2019 and from 2013-2017), with Acme Markets Inc. (2017-2019) and Rite Aid Corporation (2001-2013). Dr. Govignon received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. We believe Dr. Govignon's managerial experience and his experience in investing and financial analysis make him qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.
Andrew B. McIntyre serves as our Director since October 2023. Mr. McIntyre is Managing Director of Segwin Consulting Ltd., a consultancy specializing in M&A advisory and strategy development and execution. Since November 2021 Mr. McIntyre has served as a director and audit committee member of the FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U). Since November 2023 Mr. McIntyre has served as a director of FG Merger III Corp., special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing initial public offerings. Mr. McIntyre served as Director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry, from June 2016 to December 2021. During his tenure as a director of GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc., Mr. McIntyre also served as a member of its audit committee. From July 2022 through December 2023, Mr. McIntyre was Senior Advisor at Deloitte LLP. Mr. McIntyre served Sofina Foods Inc. as Senior Vice President, Finance from September 2019 to June 2022. From October 2016 to August 2019, Mr. McIntyre served Samuel, Son & Co. Limited in the role of Vice President, Corporate Development. Previously, Mr. McIntyre was Vice President, Corporate Development at Vicwest Inc. Mr. McIntyre has served on the Boards of Directors of Burloak Technologies Inc., Pre-Insulated Metal Technologies Inc., BBi Enterprises Inc., MDS Capital Company and the Orthopaedic & Arthritic Institute. Mr. McIntyre’s formal designations include ICD.D., Chartered Financial Analyst, Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and P. Eng.
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M. Wesley Schrader has served as our senior advisor since October 2023. Mr. Schrader has over 25 years of experience encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Schrader founded Waverider Partners LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2021 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Schrader co-founded FC Logistics LLC, a privately held company, in April 2024 and has served as its CEO since inception. Mr. Schrader founded Capital MW LLC, a management consulting firm, in 2008 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Schrader served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of FG Merger Corp. from January 2022 to August 2023. Mr. Schrader also served as Senior Advisor from January 2022 to December 2022 to Columbine Logging, Inc. d/b/a Columbine Corporation, a privately held company, where he served as Chief Executive Officer from March 2018 to December 2021.
Previously, Mr. Schrader has held various executive and management positions, primarily focused on corporate development and finance. Mr. Schrader holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso University, a Master of Business in Administration from the University of Denver, and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Denver.
Ndamukong Suh has been a Senior Advisor to FG Merger II Corp since October 2023. Mr. Suh is an independent private investor and holds ownership interests in several real estate development projects across Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Colorado. Mr. Suh is the Founder and a director of the Suh Family Foundation. He is also a professional athlete and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (“NFL”) during 2022. He previously was with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019 to 2022, becoming a Superbowl champion in February 2021, Los Angeles Rams from 2018 to 2019, Miami Dolphins from 2015 to 2017 and Detroit Lions from 2010 to 2014. He has served on the Board of Directors of FG Group Holdings, Inc (NYSE American: FGH), a holding company with diverse business interests since January 2016. Mr. Suh serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of Ember Technologies, a privately held manufacturer and designer of patented temperature adjustable dishware and drinkware. Mr. Suh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering focused on Construction Management from the University of Nebraska.
The past performance of our management team or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either: (i) success with respect to any business combination we may consummate; or (ii) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their respective affiliates’ performance as indicative of any future performance.
For more information on the experience and background of our management team, see the section entitled “Management.”
Prior SPAC Experience
Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Swets, served as senior advisor to Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Mr. Swets is currently the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector. Previously, Mr. Swets served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Mr. Swets is currently the Chief Executive Officer of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Mr. Baqar, served as Chief Financial Officer of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. In addition, Mr. Baqar also served as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector, as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit, as Chief Financial Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp., a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB). Mr. Baqar is currently the Chief Financial Officer of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our director, D. Kyle Cerminara, served as a senior advisor to FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. He previously served as a director of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Mr. Cerminara also served as director and president of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Mr. Cerminara is currently a director and a Chairman of the Board of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our director, Dr. Richard E. Govignon, serves as a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector. Mr. Govignon is currently a director of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our director, Andrew B. McIntyre, serves as a director FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector. Mr. McIntyre is currently a director of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our senior advisor, M. Wesley Schrader, served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. Mr. Schrader is currently a senior advisor of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
Our senior advisor, M. Nadamukong Suh also serves as a senior advisor of FG Merger III Corp., a special purpose acquisiton company in process of completing its IPO.
The following table sets forth information regarding the extensions and redemption levels in connection with such extensions or business combination for each SPAC in which our management team has participated:
| Extensions | Business Combination | |||||||||||||||
| Name of SPAC | Date | Redemptions | Date | Redemptions | ||||||||||||
| Aldel Financial Inc. | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| FG Acquisition Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| FG New America Acquisition Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| FG Merger Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| 1347 Capital Corp. | % | % | ||||||||||||||
Business Combination Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating initial business combination opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to seek to acquire companies within industries that exhibit strong characteristics including, but not limited to, the following:
| ● | Public market-ready scale; |
| ● | Strong management team; |
| ● | Recurring revenues; |
| ● | High barrier to entry; |
| ● | Long-term organic growth; |
| ● | Consolidation opportunities to scale; |
| ● | Attractive competitive dynamics; |
| ● | Differentiated products or services; and |
| ● | Strong cash flow conversion. |
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we would file with the SEC. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
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The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. The company will not pay any consulting fees to members of our management team, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or in connection with our initial business combination.
Initial Business Combination
We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) to consummate our initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public stockholders. In the event of our dissolution and liquidation, the rights included in the private units will expire worthless.
NASDAQ rules and our amended and restated articles of incorporation require that we must consummate an initial business combination with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted). Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. Additionally, pursuant to NASDAQ rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the target’s assets or prospects.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post- transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the “Investment Company Act”. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of net assets test described above. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
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We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement securities, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including any cash received from the sale of securities pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us. Accordingly, there is no current basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination. Although our management will assess the risks inherent in a particular target business with which we may combine, we cannot assure you that this assessment will result in our identifying all risks that a target business may encounter. Furthermore, some of those risks may be outside of our control, meaning that we can do nothing to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely affect a target business.
We may need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon the closing of the business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. There are no prohibitions on our ability to issue securities or incur debt in connection with our initial business combination. We are not currently a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities, the incurrence of debt or otherwise.
Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
Sourcing of Potential Initial Business Combination Targets
We believe our management team’s significant operating and transaction experience and relationships will provide us with a substantial number of potential initial business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team and our directors and advisors have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships around the world, which includes private equity firms, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. This network has grown through the activities of our management team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, the reputation of our management team for integrity and fair dealing with sellers, financing sources and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying economic and financial market conditions. In addition, members of our management team have developed contacts derived directly from serving on the boards of directors of several public and private companies.
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This network has provided our management team with a flow of referrals, which in the past has resulted in numerous transactions which were proprietary or where a limited group of investors were invited to participate in the sale process. We believe that this network will provide us with multiple investment opportunities. In addition, we anticipate that target business combination candidates will be brought to our attention by various unaffiliated sources, including participants in our targeted markets and their advisors, private equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of a finder’s fee is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account. In no event, however, will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation by the company prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction). In addition, commencing on the date of this prospectus, we will pay our sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team. Any such payments prior to our initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account. Other than the foregoing, there will be no finder’s fees, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction).
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, executive officers or directors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public stockholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm stating that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team and our independent directors and their affiliates will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement securities following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, the founder shares and private placement securities may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. Further, each of the members of our management team may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such person was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. See “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for additional information.
The low price that our sponsor, officers, directors and senior advisors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our management team could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders.If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares, private units (and the underlying securities) and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (and the underlying securities) will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Additionally, we will repay up to $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses and we will reimburse our sponsor an amount equal to $15,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will repay any loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination; up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Upon consummation of this offering, we will also reimburse our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our sponsor or its affiliates:
| Entity/Individual | Amount
of Compensation to be Received or Securities Issued or to be Issued |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid | ||
| FG Merger Investors II LLC | 2,000,000 shares of common stock(1) | $25,000 | ||
| 190,000 private units(1) | $1,900,000 | |||
| Up to $150,000 | Repayment of loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. | |||
| $15,000 per month | Office space, administrative and support services | |||
| Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit | Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. | |||
| Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | Services in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. |
| (1) | Assumes no exercise of the over-allotment option and the full forfeiture of 300,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our initial stockholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. |
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
| Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | Average Price Per Share | ||||||||||||||||
| Initial Stockholders(1) | 2,000,000 | 19.63 | % | $ | 25,000 | 0.03 | % | $ | 0.0125 | |||||||||||
| Private Shares | 190,000 | 1.87 | % | 1,900,000 | 2.32 | % | $ | 10 | ||||||||||||
| Public Stockholders | 8,000,000 | 78.51 | % | 80,000,000 | 97.65 | % | $ | 10 | ||||||||||||
| 10,190,100 | 100.00 | % | $ | 81,925,000 | 100.00 | % | ||||||||||||||
(1) Assumes that 300,000 founder shares are forfeited after the closing of this offering in the event the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, including other special purpose acquisition companies. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination.
However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of $80,000,000 (assuming no redemptions) (or $92,000,000 (assuming no redemptions) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Additional Financing
We have not selected any specific business combination target but intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than what we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units. As a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemption by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Such additional financing may be in the form of PIPE transactions or convertible debt transactions. These financing transactions would be designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing stockholders. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company, and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. We cannot assure you that financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. None of our initial stockholders, directors or officers or their affiliates are obligated to provide any such financing to us. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate.
In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our directors, officers or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
| ● | subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and |
| ● | cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services. |
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
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Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons.
Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Nevada law for each such transaction.
| Type of Transaction | Whether Stockholder Approval is Required | |
| Purchase of assets | No | |
| Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company. | No | |
| Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company. | No | |
| Merger of the company with a target | Yes |
Under NASDAQ’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
| ● | We issue (other than in a public offering for cash) shares of common stock that will either (a) be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of our shares of common stock then outstanding or (b) have voting power equal to or in excess of 20% of the voting power then outstanding; |
| ● | Any of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by NASDAQ rules) has a 5% or greater interest, directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired and if the number of shares of common stock to be issued, or if the number of shares of common stock in which the securities may be convertible or exercisable, exceeds either (a) 1% of the number of shares of common stock or 1% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any of our directors and officers and (b) 5% of the number of shares of common stock or 5% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any substantial securityholder; or |
| ● | The issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control. |
The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and other reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
| ● | the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company; |
| ● | the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote; |
| ● | the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination; |
| ● | other time and budget constraints of the company; and |
| ● | additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders. |
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Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. However, other than as expressly stated herein, our initial stockholders have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public rights in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
In the event that our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public rights in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public rights could be to reduce the number of public rights outstanding. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of common stock or public rights may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, initial stockholders, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders (in the case of common stock) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already been voted at the stockholder meeting related to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, initial stockholders, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase shares from based on a negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
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Any purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.
Additionally, in the event our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares or rights from public stockholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| • | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase shares or rights from public stockholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
| • | if our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates were to purchase shares or rights from public stockholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| • | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
| • | our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
| • | we would disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: |
| • | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
| • | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates; |
| • | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; |
| • | the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates; and |
| • | the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
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Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon the Completion of Our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. Our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares they may hold in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Limitations on Redemptions
Our proposed initial business combination may impose a minimum cash requirement for: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares in connection with such initial business combination, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof. We may, however, raise funds through the issuance of equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop arrangements we may enter into following consummation of this offering, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such minimum cash requirements.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination (regardless of whether a stockholder votes on the proposed transaction (and regardless of whether a stockholder votes for, votes against, or abstains with respect to the transaction, if the stockholder elects to vote) or (ii) without a stockholder vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements.
Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation would require stockholder approval. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ, we will be required to comply with NASDAQ’s stockholder approval rules.
The requirement that we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above will be contained in provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and will apply whether or not we maintain our registration under the Exchange Act or our listing on NASDAQ. Such provisions may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. If we amend such provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) in connection with a stockholder meeting.
If we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with a stockholder meeting, we will:
| ● | conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and |
| ● | file proxy materials with the SEC. |
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If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted (or such greater number of shares as is required by applicable law) are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting. The shares of common stock held by our initial stockholders and holders of Underwriter Shares will count towards this quorum and our sponsor, officers and directors and the underwriters have agreed to vote any founder shares, private shares and Underwriter Shares they hold and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to the founder shares, the private shares and the Underwriter Shares, we would need only 329,376, or approximately 4.12%, of the 8,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the Underwriter Shares are voted in favor of the transaction) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised and a quorum is present at the meeting). This voting threshold, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or whether they were a stockholder on the record date for the stockholder meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will:
| ● | conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and |
| ● | file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination, which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies. |
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we or our sponsor will terminate any purchases of shares of our common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
We intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. We believe that this will allow our transfer agent to efficiently process any redemptions without the need for further communication or action from the redeeming public stockholders, which could delay redemptions and result in additional administrative cost. If the proposed initial business combination is not approved and we continue to search for a target company, we will promptly return any certificates or shares delivered by public stockholders who elected to redeem their shares.
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Our proposed initial business combination may impose a minimum cash requirement for: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares in connection with such initial business combination, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof. We may, however, raise funds through the issuance of equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop arrangements we may enter into following consummation of this offering, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such minimum cash requirements.
Limitation on Redemption Upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination If We Seek Stockholder Approval
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us, our sponsor or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash.
However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Delivering Stock Certificates in Connection with the Exercise of Redemption Rights
As described above, we intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have up to two business days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, or from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, as applicable, to submit or tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable, its shares may not be redeemed. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
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There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the broker submitting or tendering shares a fee of approximately $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to submit or tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension).
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) to complete our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less amounts released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24- month time period.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, we do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of this offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination or fail to obtain stockholder approval to extend the completion window, our sponsor’s investment in our founder shares, private units and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will be worthless.
Our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have entered or, in the case of independent directors appointed after this offering, will enter into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed or will agree to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and independent director shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation. However, if our initial stockholders, sponsor or management team acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24-month time period.
Our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, or in the case of independent directors appointed after this offering, will agree, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less amounts released to us (i) for working capital purposes (but not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and/or (ii) to pay our tax obligations), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
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We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) of proceeds held outside the trust account, and the amount we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000) from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account and any tax payments or expenses for the dissolution of the trust, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.00.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will consider whether competitive alternatives are reasonably available to us and will only enter into an agreement with such third party if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be in the best interests of the company under the circumstances. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. The underwriter of this offering and our independent registered public accounting firm will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our sponsor's only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective targets businesses.
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In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case less taxes payable, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.00 per share.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $141,500 (or $21,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) from the proceeds of this offering, and the amount we are permitted to withdraw annually for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000) from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000).
In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised), we may fund such excess with funds from the funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised), the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
Under Nevada law, a stockholder may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution or such stockholder’s pro rata share of such claim, whichever is less.
The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) may be considered a liquidating distribution under Nevada law. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more). Any action or suit must be commenced within two years after the dissolution if the plaintiff could have known the underlying facts on or before the dissolution, or within three years after the date of dissolution in all other cases.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) is not considered a liquidating distribution under Nevada law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 11.380 of the NRS, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors against stockholders could be three years after the plaintiff could have known the underlying facts.
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However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote.
Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.00 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), (ii) in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the ability of public stockholders to seek redemption in connection with an initial business combination or our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity or (iii) if they redeem their respective shares for cash upon the completion of our initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. These provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices in Connection with Our Initial Business Combination and if We Fail to Complete Our Initial Business Combination.
The following table compares the redemptions and other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension).
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| Redemptions in Connection with Our Initial Business Combination |
Other Permitted Purchases of Public Shares by Our Affiliates |
Redemptions
if We | ||||
| Calculation of redemption price | Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, our public stockholders may redeem their public shares for 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 initial business combination (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. | If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit to the prices that our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may pay in these transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going- private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. | If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), we will redeem all public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount, then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. |
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| Redemptions in Connection with Our Initial Business Combination |
Other Permitted Purchases of Public Shares by Our Affiliates |
Redemptions
if We | ||||
| Impact to remaining stockholders | The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the interest withdrawn in order to pay our taxes and working capital expenses (to the extent not paid from amounts accrued as interest on the funds held in the trust account). | If the permitted purchases described above are made, there would be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us. | The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our initial stockholders, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions. |
Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over- allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
| Terms of Our offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Escrow of offering proceeds | $80,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities will be deposited into a trust account located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. | Approximately $70,327,350 of the offering proceeds, representing the gross proceeds of this offering less allowable underwriting commissions, expenses and company deductions under Rule 419, would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account. | ||
| Investment of net proceeds | $80,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement securities held in trust will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. | Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States. |
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| Terms of Our offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Receipt of interest on escrowed funds | Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by (i) any taxes paid or payable, (ii) funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and (iii) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation. | Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination. | ||
| Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business | We must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. | The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds. | ||
| Trading of securities issued | The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The common stock and rights comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless ThinkEquity informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which closing is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over- allotment option. | No trading of the units or the underlying common stock and rights would be permitted until the closing of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account. |
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| Terms of Our offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Election to remain an investor | We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by law to hold a stockholder vote. If we are not required by law and do not otherwise decide to hold a stockholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated articles of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. | A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if he, she or it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his, her or its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued. |
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| Terms of Our offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Business combination deadline | If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per- share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the requirements of other applicable law. | If an acquisition has not been completed within 24 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors. |
| Terms of Our offering | Terms
Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Release of funds | Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay our taxes, none of the funds held in trust will be released from the trust account until the earliest of (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. | The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the closing of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
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| Terms of Our offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Delivering stock certificates in connection with the exercise of redemption rights | We intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have up to two business days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, or from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, as applicable, to submit or tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. | Many blank check companies provide that a stockholder can vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating that such stockholder is seeking to exercise its redemption rights. After the business combination is approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for delivery of its share certificates to verify ownership. |
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| Terms of Our offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote | If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. However, we would not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. | Many blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of stockholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such stockholders in connection with an initial business combination. |
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other special purpose acquisition companies and blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, public companies and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources and relevant industry knowledge than us. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources.
This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding rights, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Facilities
We currently utilize office space at 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143 from our sponsor and the members of our management team. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have two executive officers: Larry Swets, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer, and Hassan R. Baqar, our Chief Financial Officer. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We will register our units, common stock and rights under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
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We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may conduct an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above, or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.
Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our shares of common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
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Officers and Directors
Our officers and directors are as follows:
| Name | Age | Position | ||
| Larry G. Swets, Jr. | 49 | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Hassan R. Baqar | 47 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| D. Kyle Cerminara | 47 | Chairman of the Board | ||
| Andrew B. McIntyre | 62 | Director | ||
| Scott D. Wollney | 55 | Director | ||
| Richard E. Govignon | 47 | Director |
Larry G. Swets, Jr. has served as our Chief Executive Officer since inception. Mr. Swets has over 25 years of experience within financial services encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Swets founded Itasca Financial LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2005 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Swets also founded and is the President of Itasca Golf Managers, Inc., a management services and advisory firm focused on the real estate and hospitality industries, in August 2018. Mr. Swets has served as the Chief Executive Officer of FG Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGF) (formerly 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.), which operates as a diversified reinsurance, investment management and real estate holding company, since November 2020, after having served as Interim CEO from June 2020 to November 2020. Mr. Swets is a member of the board of directors of FG Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF) since November 2013, GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry since June 2016, Harbor Custom Development, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCDI) since February 2020, FG Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE American: FGH) since October 2021, and Ascension Illinois Foundation since March 2018, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Unbounded Media Corporation from June 2019 to September 2023. Mr. Swets also serves as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp (TSX:FGAA.U) since October 2021, a special acquisition company seeking to complete an acquisition, since October 2021.
Previously, Mr. Swets served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit, from July 2020 to July 2021. From April 2021 to December 2021, Mr. Swets also served as Senior Advisor to Aldel Financial Inc., a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Mr. Swets served as Chief Executive Officer of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.) from June 2016 to June 2021. Mr. Swets served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) from July 2010 to September 2018, including as its President from July 2010 to March 2017. Mr. Swets served as a director of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd. from October 2017 to December 2021. He also previously served as a member of the board of directors of Limbach Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMB) from July 2016 to August 2021; Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) from September 2013 to December 2018; Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFH) from December 2010 to January 2018; FMG Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: FMGQ) from May 2007 to September 2008; United Insurance Holdings Corp. from 2008 to March 2012; and Risk Enterprise Management Ltd. from November 2007 to May 2012.
Prior to founding Itasca Financial LLC, Mr. Swets served as an insurance company executive and advisor, including the role of director of investments and fixed income portfolio manager for Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, formerly known as Kemper Insurance Companies. Mr. Swets began his career in insurance as an intern in the Kemper Scholar program in 1994. Mr. Swets earned a Master’s Degree in Finance from DePaul University in 1999 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Valparaiso University in 1997. He is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
1 NTD: Bios to be updated as necessary.
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Hassan R. Baqar has served as out Chief Financial Officer since inception. Mr. Baqar has over 20 years of experience within financial services and other industries focused on corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, investments and real estate transactions. Mr. Baqar has served as the founder and managing member of Sequoia Financial LLC, a financial services and advisory firm, since January 2019. Mr. Baqar has also served as Chief Financial Officer since August 2021 and Executive Vice President since December 2021 of FG Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF) (formerly known as 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.), which operates as a reinsurance and asset management holding company, as Chief Financial Officer of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd., a former Bermuda based reinsurance company from October 2017 to December 2021, as a director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry from August 2019 to December 2021 and as Chief Financial Officer of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. from June 2016 to December 2020, as a director of FG Reinsurance Ltd., a Cayman Islands reinsurance company since June 2020, as director, treasurer and secretary of Sponsor Protection Coverage and Risk, Inc., a South Carolina captive insurance company since October 2022, and as a director and Chief Financial Officer of Unbounded Media Corporation from June 2019 to September 2023. Since October 2021, Mr. Baqar has also served as the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has completed its initial public offering and is focused on searching for a target company in the financial services sector.
Mr. Baqar served as a director of FG Merger Corp. (Nasdaq: FGMCU) from December 2021 to August 2023, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with iCoreconnect Inc. (Nasdaq: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services, and as Chief Financial Officer of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF) from January 2021 to December 2021, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. From July 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Baqar served as Chief Financial Officer of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Previously, he served as Vice President of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: KFS) (“Kingsway”) from January 2014 to January 2019 and as a Vice President of Kingsway’s subsidiary Kingsway America Inc. from January 2010 to January 2019. Mr. Baqar also served as Chief Financial Officer and director of 1347 Capital Corp. from April 2014 to July 2016, a special purpose acquisition company which merged with Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB). Mr. Baqar served as a member of the board of directors of FG Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF) from October 2012 to May 2015. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer of United Insurance Holdings Corp. (NYSE: UIHC), a publicly held property and casualty insurance holding company, from August 2011 to April 2012.
His previous experience also includes director of finance at Itasca Financial, LLC from 2008 to 2009 and positions held at Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company (a Kemper Insurance company), a diversified mutual property-casualty insurance provider, from June 2000 to April 2008, where he most recently served as a senior analyst. Mr. Baqar earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern Illinois University in 2009 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Monmouth College in 2000. He also holds a Certified Public Accountant designation.
D. Kyle Cerminara has served as our Chairman since October 2023. Mr. Cerminara has over 20 years’ experience as an institutional investor, asset manager, director, chief executive, founder and operator of multiple financial services and technology businesses. Mr. Cerminara co-founded Fundamental Global in 2012 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Cerminara is a member of the board of directors of a number of companies focused in the reinsurance, asset management, technology and communication sectors, including Fundamental Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGF) (formerly known as FG Financial Group, Inc. and as 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc.), which operates as a reinsurance and asset management company, since December 2016; Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE American: SGE), a leader in the entertainment industry providing mission critical products and services to cinema exhibitors and entertainment venues, since March 2022; and Firefly Systems Inc., a venture-backed digital advertising company, since August 2020. Mr. Cerminara has served as the Chairman and President since the founding of FG Communities, Inc. in July 2022. FG Communities is a corporation created to preserve and improve affordable housing through ownership and management of manufactured housing communities. Mr. Cerminara is the Chairman of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX:FGAA.U), a Canadian special purpose acquisition company that has entered an agreement to acquire Strong/MDI Screen Systems, Inc.
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Mr. Cerminara served as a director of FG Group Holdings Inc., a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the entertainment and retail markets that merged with Fundamental Global, Inc. in February 2024, from February 2015 until February 2024; he served as its Chairman from May 2015 until February 2024; and he previously served as its Chief Executive Officer from November 2015 through April 2020. Mr. Cerminara has served as the Chairman of Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. since March 2022. Mr. Cerminara was appointed Chairman of Fundamental Global, Inc. in May 2018 and served as its Principal Executive Officer from March 2020 to June 2020, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since its merger with FG Group Holdings, Inc. in February 2024. Mr. Cerminara served as a director of BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American: BKTI) from July 2015 through December 2023, and served as its Chairman from July 2022 through December 2023 and previously from March 2017 until April 2020. From February 2022 to August 2023, Mr. Cerminara served as a Senior Advisor to FG Merger Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with iCoreConnect, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICCT), a market leading, cloud-based software and technology company focused on increasing workflow productivity and customer profitability through its enterprise and healthcare workflow platform of applications and services. From April 2021 to December 2021, Mr. Cerminara served as a director of Aldel Financial Inc. (NYSE: ADF), a special purpose acquisition company co-sponsored by Fundamental Global, which merged with Hagerty Inc. (NYSE: HGTY), a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. From July 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Cerminara served as Director and President of FG New America Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FGNA), a special purpose acquisition company, which merged with OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI), a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. He served on the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry, from June 2016 to October 2021 and was appointed Chairman from June 2018 to June 2021; Limbach Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMB), a company which provides building infrastructure services, from March 2019 to March 2020; Iteris, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI), a publicly-traded, applied informatics company, from August 2016 to November 2017; Magnetek, Inc., a publicly-traded manufacturer, in 2015; and blueharbor bank, a community bank, from October 2013 to January 2020. He served as a Trustee and President of StrongVest ETF Trust, which was an open-end management investment company, from July 2016 to March 2021. Previously, Mr. Cerminara served as the Co-Chief Investment Officer of CWA Asset Management Group, LLC, a position he held from January 2013 to December 2020.
Prior to these roles, Mr. Cerminara was a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management, an independent financial adviser, from 2011 to 2012, a Director and Sector Head of the Financials Industry at Highside Capital Management from 2009 to 2011, and a Portfolio Manager and Director at CR Intrinsic Investors from 2007 to 2009. Before joining CR Intrinsic Investors, Mr. Cerminara was a Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager and Analyst at T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW) from 2001 to 2007, where he was named amongst Institutional Investor’s Best of the Buy Side Analysts in November 2006, and an Analyst at Legg Mason from 2000 to 2001.
Mr. Cerminara received an MBA degree from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an NCAA Academic All American and Co-Captain of the men’s varsity tennis team. He also completed a China Executive Residency at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, China. Mr. Cerminara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Scott D. Wollney has served as our director since October 2023. Since March 30, 2015, Mr. Wollney has served as a director of FG Financial Group Inc. (“FGF”). Since December 2010, Mr. Wollney has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Atlas”) (OTC: AFHIF), a specialty commercial automobile insurance business that operates primarily as a managing general agency. From July 2009 until December 2010, Mr. Wollney was President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway America Inc. (KAI), a property and casualty holding company and subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. From May 2008 to March 2009, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln General Insurance Company (a subsidiary of KAI), a property and casualty insurance company. Mr. Wollney co-founded Avalon Risk Management, Inc., an insurance broker, in 1998, and served as its President, from 2002 to 2008. Mr. Wollney has more than 30 years of experience in property and casualty insurance. During his tenure in the industry, Mr. Wollney has held executive positions at both insurance companies, as well as brokerage operations. Mr. Wollney is a MBA graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a concentration in finance and management strategy and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois.
Dr. Richard E. Govignon, Jr was appointed to the Board of Directors of FG Merger II Corp in October 2023. Dr. Govignon, 46, has been a Partner of Dnerus Financial, a family asset management company, since June 2021. Dr. Govignon is an experienced corporate director/trustee in the U.S. and Canada with broad exposure to numerous industries. Dr. Govignon serves as a director of the board of FG Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF), a reinsurance and asset management holding company focused on collateralized and loss-capped reinsurance and merchant banking since December 2021. Dr. Govignon has been a director of Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SGE), a corporation focused on supplying screens and providing technical support services to the cinema exhibition industry, theme parks, and other entertainment-related markets since January 2022. Dr. Govignon also serves as a member of the board of directors of FG Acquisition Corp (TSX: FGAA.U), a special purpose acquisition corporation (“SPAC”) incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, which in May 2023 announced a business combination agreement with ThinkMarkets an online forex and CFD provider since April 2022. Dr. Govignon is also a member of the board of directors of B-Scada, Inc. (OTC: SCDA), a company developing software and hardware products since June 2021. Dr. Govignon served as a member of the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc. (TSXV: GFP), a public company focused on forest product investments, from January 2019 to December 2021. Dr. Govignon also served as a Trustee of the StrongVest ETF Trust (US: CWAI) that, invested in a diversified portfolio of corporate bonds with varying maturities and equity securities from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Govignon has worked in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry in various management and pharmacy positions for over 20 years, most recently with ShopRite Pharmacy since 2022 and previously with CVS Health Corporation (2022-2019 and from 2013-2017), with Acme Markets Inc. (2017-2019) and Rite Aid Corporation (2001-2013).
Dr. Govignon received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. We believe Dr. Govignon's managerial experience and his experience in investing and financial analysis make him qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.
Andrew B. McIntyre serves as our Director since October 2023. Mr. McIntyre is Managing Director of Segwin Consulting Ltd., a consultancy specializing in M&A advisory and strategy development and execution. Since November 2021 Mr. McIntyre has served as a director and audit committee member of the FG Acquisition Corp. (TSX: FGAA.U). Since November 2023 Mr. McIntyre has served as a director of FG Merger III Corp., special purpose acquisition companies in the process of completing initial public offerings. Mr. McIntyre served as Director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSXV: GFP) (formerly Itasca Capital Ltd.), a public company focused on investments in the forest products industry, from June 2016 to December 2021. During his tenure as a director of GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc., Mr. McIntyre also served as a member of its audit committee. From July 2022 through December 2023, Mr. McIntyre was Senior Advisor at Deloitte LLP. Mr. McIntyre served Sofina Foods Inc. as Senior Vice President, Finance from September 2019 to June 2022. From October 2016 to August 2019, Mr. McIntyre served Samuel, Son & Co. Limited in the role of Vice President, Corporate Development. Previously, Mr. McIntyre was Vice President, Corporate Development at Vicwest Inc. Mr. McIntyre has served on the Boards of Directors of Burloak Technologies Inc., Pre-Insulated Metal Technologies Inc., BBi Enterprises Inc., MDS Capital Company and the Orthopaedic & Arthritic Institute. Mr. McIntyre’s formal designations include ICD.D., Chartered Financial Analyst, Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and P. Eng.
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Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors consists of three members is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of [_] and [_], will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of [_] and [_], will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of [_], will expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint officers as it deems appropriate pursuant to our amended and restated articles of incorporation.
Director Independence
The rules of NASDAQ require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our initial public offering. Our board of directors has determined that D. Kyle Cerminara, Andrew B. McIntyre, Scott D. Wollney and Richard E. Govignon are “independent directors” as defined in NASDAQ rules and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
None of our directors have received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on NASDAQ through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay our sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team. In addition, our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such reimbursements, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with our activities on our behalf in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination. Other than these payments and reimbursements, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by the company to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to completion of our initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
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Committees of the Board of Directors
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our board of directors will have three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of NASDAQ and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of NASDAQ require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. Andrew B. McIntyre, Richard E. Govignon and Scott D. Wollney will serve as members of our audit committee, and Andrew B. McIntyre will chair the audit committee. We expect all of the members of our audit committee to be independent.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Andrew B. McIntyre qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
| · | assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm; the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us; |
| · | pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures; reviewing and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence; |
| · | setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (1) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality- control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues; |
| · | meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”; reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and |
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| · | reviewing with management, the independent, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. |
Compensation Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. Scott D. Wollney and Richard E. Govignon will serve as members of our compensation committee. Scott D. Wollney will chair the compensation committee.
We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
| · | reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation; |
| · | reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to the compensation, and any incentive compensation and equity based plans that are subject to board approval of all of our other officers; |
| · | reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans; |
| · | implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
| · | reviewing and discussing with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis disclosure required by SEC regulations and determining whether to recommend to the board that such disclosure be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any proxy statement for the election of directors; |
| · | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees; |
| · | producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
| · | reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, other than the payment to our sponsor of $15,000 per month, for up to 24 months, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support and reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of an initial business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors. The initial members of our nominating and corporate governance will be Scott D. Wollney, Richard E. Govignon, and Andrew B. McIntyre. Scott D. Wollney will serve as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee.
We will adopt a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:
| · | identifying and screening individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
| · | developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines; |
| · | coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and |
| · | reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary. |
The charter will also provide that the nominating and corporate governance committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of, and terminate, any search firm to be used to identify director candidates, and will be directly responsible for approving the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors.
Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors
We haved appointed Ndamukong Suh and M. Wesley Schrader as a senior advisor. Senior Advisors will assist our management team with sourcing and evaluating business opportunities and devising plans and strategies to optimize any business that we acquire following the consummation of this offering. We have entered into any formal arrangements or agreements with Senior Advisors to provide services to us and they will have no fiduciary obligations to present business opportunities to us. They will not be paid any finder’s fees, reimbursement, or consulting fee prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction).
M. Wesley Schrader has served as our senior advisor since October 2023. Mr. Schrader has over 25 years of experience encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Schrader founded Waverider Partners LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2021 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Schrader co-founded FC Logistics LLC, a privately held company, in April 2024 and has served as its CEO since inception. Mr. Schrader founded Capital MW LLC, a management consulting firm, in 2008 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Schrader served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of FG Merger Corp. from January 2022 to August 2023. Mr. Schrader also served as Senior Advisor from January 2022 to December 2022 to Columbine Logging, Inc. d/b/a Columbine Corporation, a privately held company, where he served as Chief Executive Officer from March 2018 to December 2021.
Previously, Mr. Schrader has held various executive and management positions, primarily focused on corporate development and finance. Mr. Schrader holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso University, a Master of Business in Administration from the University of Denver, and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Denver.
Ndamukong Suh has been a Senior Advisor to FG Merger II Corp since October 2023. Mr. Suh is an independent private investor and holds ownership interests in several real estate development projects across Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Colorado. Mr. Suh is the Founder and a director of the Suh Family Foundation. He is also a professional athlete and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (“NFL”) during 2022. He previously was with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019 to 2022, becoming a Superbowl champion in February 2021, Los Angeles Rams from 2018 to 2019, Miami Dolphins from 2015 to 2017 and Detroit Lions from 2010 to 2014. He has served on the Board of Directors of FG Group Holdings, Inc (NYSE American: FGH), a holding company with diverse business interests since January 2016. Mr. Suh serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of Ember Technologies, a privately held manufacturer and designer of patented temperature adjustable dishware and drinkware. Mr. Suh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering focused on Construction Management from the University of Nebraska.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We have filed a copy of our form of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and our audit committee and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You will be able to review this document by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters of the committees will be provided without charge upon request from us. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” If we make any amendments to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions requiring disclosure under applicable SEC or NASDAQ rules, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website. The information included on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Form S-1 or in any other report or document we file with the SEC, and any references to our website are intended to be inactive textual references only.
Conflicts of Interest
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
| · | the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity; |
| · | the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and |
| · | it would not be fair to our company and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation. |
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, including other special purpose acquisition companies. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
| Individual | Entity | Entity’s Business | Affiliation | |||
| Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||||||
| GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc. | Forest Products | Director | ||||
| Itasca Golf Managers, Inc. | Real Estate and Hospitality | President | ||||
| FG Acquisition Corp. | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Director and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| Hassan Baqar | FG Reinsurance Ltd | Reinsurance | Director | |||
| FG Acquisition Corp. | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Director and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
| Craveworthy LLC | Restaurants Portfolio Company | Manager | ||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | Special Purpose Acqusiton Company | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
| Sequoia Financial LLC |
Management Services & Financial Advisory |
Managing member | ||||
| Scott D. Wollney | Fundamental Global Inc. | Reinsurance, Investment Management | Director | |||
| Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. | Property & Casualty Insurance | Director & CEO | ||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | Special Purpose Acqusiton Company | Director | ||||
| Richard E. Govignon | Fundamental Global Inc. | Reinsurance, Investment Management | Director | |||
| Strong Global Entertainment | Cinema Exhibition Industry | Director | ||||
| FG Acquisition Corp. | SPAC | Director | ||||
| B-Scada Inc. | Software and Hardware Development | Director | ||||
| Dnerus Financial | Family Asset Management | Partner | ||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | Special Purpose Acqusiton Company | Director | ||||
| D. Kyle Cerminara | Fundamental Global Inc | Reinsurance, Asset Management | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| FG Communities Inc. | Real Estate | Chairman & President | ||||
| FG Acquisition Corp. | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Chairman | ||||
| Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. | Entertainment, Digital Signage and Advertising | Chairman | ||||
| Firefly Systems Inc. | Entertainment, Digital Signage and Advertising | Director | ||||
| Fundamental Global LLC | Holding Company | Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| Fundamental Global GP LLC | GP to a limited partnership | Manager | ||||
| Fundamental Global Management LLC | Managed Services | Manager | ||||
| Lake Norman Tennis Center LLC | Tennis Club | Manager | ||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | Special Purpose Acqusiton Company | Director and Chairman | ||||
| Andrew B. McIntyre | FG Acquisition Corp. | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | Director | |||
| Segwin Consulting Ltd. | Solar Enery, Business Consulting | Director | ||||
| FG Merger III Corp. | Special Purpose Acqusiton Company | Director |
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
| · | Our executive officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our executive officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our executive officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. |
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| · | Our initial stockholders purchased founder shares prior to the date of this prospectus and will purchase private placement securities in a transaction that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our initial stockholders have entered into agreements with us, pursuant which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and any public shares they hold in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. The other members of our management team have entered into agreements similar to the one entered into by our initial stockholders with respect to any public shares acquired by them in or after this offering. Additionally, our initial stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, the private placement securities will expire worthless. Furthermore, our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until: (i) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. In addition, we could agree to permit the holders of our founder shares to transfer shares or agree to cancel such securities. Although no such transfers or cancellations are contemplated, we could agree to permit such transfer or cancellation to facilitate the closing of a business combination. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will not be transferable until 30 days following the completion of our initial business combination. Because each of our executive officers and directors will own common stock, rights or warrants directly or indirectly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. |
| · | Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether to proceed with a particular business combination. |
| · | Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. |
In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination.
Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public stockholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm, that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context. Furthermore, in no event will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, be paid by the company any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination.
Further, commencing on the date our securities are first listed on NASDAQ, we will also pay our sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team.
We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders and holders of Underwriter Shares have agreed to vote their founder shares and Underwriter Shares, and our initial stockholders and the other members of our management team have agreed to vote any founder shares they hold and any shares purchased during or after the offering in favor of our initial business combination.
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Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Nevada law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated articles of incorporation. Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Nevada law would permit such indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors. Except with respect to any public shares they may acquire in this offering or thereafter (in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination), our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and not to seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever, including with respect to such indemnification.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
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The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:
| · | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; |
| · | each of our executive officers and directors; and |
| · | all our executive officers and directors as a group. |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all of our common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of rights or exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants as the rights are not convertible within sixty days of the date of this prospectus and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
On October 6, 2023, our sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain of our offering costs in exchange for 2,156,250 founder shares, or approximately $0.012 per share. On October 18, 2023, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 465,000 founder shares to members of the Company's management,board of directors and senior advisors, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,691,250 founder shares. On [_], 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share, or an aggregate of 143,750 founder shares (the “Dividend Shares”), resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares. On [_], 2024, our directors, officers and senior advisors transferred 31,000 Dividend Shares to the sponsor. On [_], 2024, the sponsor transferred an aggregate of 150,000 founder shares to officers of the Company, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,685,000 founder shares. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by the sponsor, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, or the shares of common stock underlying the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Up to 300,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited by the sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised. The post-offering percentages in the following table assume that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our initial stockholders have forfeited 300,000 founder shares, and that there are 10,237,500 shares of common stock, consisting of (i) 8,000,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 2,000,000 founder shares, (iii) 190,000 private shares, (iv) 40,000 Underwriter Shares, and (v) 7,500 EarlyBird Shares, issued and outstanding after this offering.
| Before Offering | After Offering | |||||||||||||||
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(2) |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(2) |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
||||||||||||
| FG Merger Investors II LLC (our sponsor) (3) | 1,685,000 | (4) | 73.26 | % | 1,685,000 | 16.46 | % | |||||||||
| Larry G. Swets, Jr. | 225,000 | 9.78 | % | 225,000 | 2.20 | % | ||||||||||
| Hassan R. Baqar | 225,000 | 9.78 | % | 225,000 | 2.20 | % | ||||||||||
| D. Kyle Cerminara | 75,000 | 3.26 | % | 75,000 | * | |||||||||||
| Andrew B. McIntyre | 10,000 | * | % | 10,000 | * | |||||||||||
| Scott D. Wollney | 10,000 | * | % | 10,000 | * | % | ||||||||||
| Richard E. Govignon | 10,000 | * | % | 10,000 | * | % | ||||||||||
| All executive officers and directors as a group (6 individuals) | 555,000 | 24.13 | % | 555,000 | 5.42 | % | ||||||||||
| * | Less than one percent |
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following is 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143. |
| (2) | Interests shown include founder shares. |
| (3) | Larry G. Swets, Jr., Hassan R. Baqar, and D. Kyle Cerminara are the managers of FG Merger Investors II LLC. The investment and voting decisions for FG Merger Investors II LLC are made jointly by the three managers and no one individual has a controlling decision. Under the so-called “rule of three,” because voting and dispositive decisions are made jointly by three managers, none of the managers is deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities held by FG Merger Investors II LLC. Accordingly, none of the managers of FG Merger Investors II LLC is deemed to have or share beneficial ownership of the securities held by FG Merger Investors II LLC. |
| (4) | Includes up to 300,000 founder shares that will be forfeited by the sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. |
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Immediately after this offering, our initial stockholders will beneficially own 20.0% of the then issued and outstanding common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the shares of common stock underlying the public rights, the Underwriter Units and the units issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans). Because of this ownership block, our initial stockholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all other matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated articles of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions including our initial business combination.
Our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants, exercisable for one share of common stock at $15.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000, or $0.10 per $15 Exercise Price Warrant, in private placements that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. In addition, our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 190,000 private units at $10.00 per unit, or $1,900,000 in the aggregate. A portion of the purchase price of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the private units will be added to the proceeds from this offering to be held in the trust account such that at the time of closing of this offering $80,000,000 (or $92,000,000 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) will be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), the private units, and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will expire worthless. The $15 Exercise Price Warrants are subject to the transfer restrictions described below and will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City Time ten years after the consummation our initial business combination. In addition, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable on a cashless basis.
FG Merger Investors II LLC, our sponsor, and our executive officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Sponsor Ownership
The following table sets forth information regarding the ownership of interests in FG Merger Investors II LLC, our sponsor, by each person known by us to have material direct and indirect interests in the sponsor;
| Before Offering | After Offering | |||||||
| Name of Beneficial Owner(1) | Number
of Units Beneficially Owned |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Units |
Number
of Units Beneficially Owned |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Units | ||||
| Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||||||||
| Hassan R. Baqar | ||||||||
| D. Kyle Cerminara | ||||||||
Larry G. Swets, Jr., Hassan R. Baqar, and D. Kyle Cerminara are the managers of FG Merger Investors II LLC. and direct its day to day operations. There are no other direct and indirect material interests in the sponsor.
Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Securities
The founder shares, private units, Underwriter Units, EarlyBird Units, $15 Exercise Price Warrants and any shares of common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the agreements entered into by our initial stockholders and management team. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (i) in the case of the founder shares, (a) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (b) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, provided, if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up and (ii) in the case of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the respective shares of common stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination except in each case (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of our officers or directors, any affiliate of our sponsor or to any member of the sponsor or any of their affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares. rights or warrants were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the State of Nevada or our Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our Sponsor, (g) in the event of our liquidation prior to our consummation of our initial business combination; or (h) in the event that, subsequent to our consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement.
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Registration Rights
The holders of the (i) founder shares, which were issued in a private placement prior to the closing of this offering, (ii) $15 Exercise Price Warrants, which will be issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and the shares of common stock underlying such $15 Exercise Price Warrants, (iii) Underwriter Shares and the shares of common stock underlying such Underwriter Rights, which will be issued as part of the Underwriter Units in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, (iv) EarlyBird Shares and the shares of common stock underlying such EarlyBird Rights, which will be issued as part of the EarlyBird Units in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, (v) the private shares and the shares of common stock underlying the private rights and (vi) the shares of common stock and and the shares of common stock underlying the rights included in the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans will have registration rights to require us to register a sale of any of our securities held by them pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement and assuming the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full and $1.5 million of working capital loans are converted into private units, we will be obligated to register up to 3,713,175 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants. The number of shares of common stock includes (i) 2,300,000 founder shares, (ii) 1,000,000 shares of common stock underlying the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, (iii) 46,000 Underwriter Shares, (iv) 7,500 EarlyBird Shares, (v) 190,000 private shares, (vi) 2,300 shares underlying the Underwriter Rights, (vii) 375 shares underlying the EarlyBird Rights, (viii) 9,500 shares of common stock underlying the private rights, (ix) 150,000 shares of common stock underlying the units issued upon conversion of working capital loans (the “working capital units”), and (x) 7,500 shares of common stock underlying the rights included in the working capital units. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On October 6, 2023, our sponsor paid $25,000 in exchange for 2,156,250 founder shares, or approximately $0.012 per share. On [_], 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share, or an aggregate of 143,750 founder shares (the “Dividend Shares”), resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares. On [_], 2024, our directors, officers and senior advisors transferred 31,000 Dividend Shares to the sponsor. On [_], 2024, the sponsor transferred an aggregate of 150,000 founder shares to officers of the Company, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,685,000 founder shares. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, or the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Up to 300,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited by the sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to the founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, or the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans).
Our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants at $0.10 per $15 Exercise Price Warrant in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. In addition, our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 190,000 private units at $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $1,900,000. The private placement securities, including the underlying shares of common stock, may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
We currently utilize office space at 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143 from our sponsor. Subsequent to the closing of this offering, we will pay our sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Except as otherwise disclosed in this prospectus, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by the company to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the closing of an initial business combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor may loan us funds to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans would be non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of the closing of this offering or the date on which the company determines not to conduct the offering described herein.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required on a non-interest basis. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.
Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
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Any of the foregoing payments to our sponsor, repayments of loans from our sponsor or repayments of working capital loans prior to our initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the trust account.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
We have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares and private placement securities which is described under the heading “Principal Stockholders — Registration Rights.”
In addition, although there are no current plans to do so, in order to facilitate our initial business combination or a PIPE financing or for any other reason determined by our sponsor in its sole discretion, our sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our founder shares, private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities.
Policy for Approval of Related Party Transactions
The audit committee of our board of directors will adopt a policy setting forth the policies and procedures for its review and approval or ratification of “related party transactions.” A “related party transaction” is any consummated or proposed transaction or series of transactions: (i) in which the company was or is to be a participant; (ii) the amount of which exceeds (or is reasonably expected to exceed) the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of the company’s total assets at year end for the prior two completed fiscal years in the aggregate over the duration of the transaction (without regard to profit or loss); and (iii) in which a “related party” had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. “Related parties” under this policy will include: (i) our directors, nominees for director or executive officers; (ii) any record or beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities; (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing if the foregoing person is a natural person; and (iv) any other person who maybe a “related person” pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to the policy, the audit committee will consider (i) the relevant facts and circumstances of each related party transaction, including if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s-length dealings with an unrelated third party, (ii) the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction, (iii) whether the transaction contravenes our code of ethics or other policies, (iv) whether the audit committee believes the relationship underlying the transaction to be in the best interests of the company and its stockholders and (v) the effect that the transaction may have on a director’s status as an independent member of the board and on his or her eligibility to serve on the board’s committees.
Management will present to the audit committee each proposed related party transaction, including all relevant facts and circumstances relating thereto. Under the policy, we may consummate related party transactions only if our audit committee approves or ratifies the transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy. The policy will not permit any director or executive officer to participate in the discussion of, or decision concerning, a related person transaction in which he or she is the related party.
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We are a Nevada corporation and our affairs are governed by our amended and restated articles of incorporation and the NRS. Pursuant to our amended and restated articles of incorporation which will be adopted prior to the consummation of this offering, we will be authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, as well as 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value each. The following description summarizes certain terms of our capital stock as set out more particularly in our amended and restated articles of incorporation. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Public Units
Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of common stock and one public right. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. We will not issue fractional shares. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 20 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. The common stock and rights comprising the units are expected to begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless ThinkEquity informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of common stock and rights commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into common stock and rights.
In no event will the common stock and rights be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at closing of this offering. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes this audited balance sheet promptly after the closing of this offering, which closing is anticipated to take place three business days after the date of this prospectus.
If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Underwriter Units
The Underwriter Units (including the Underwriter Rights or Underwriter Shares issuable upon exercise of such rights) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of our initial business combination. Otherwise, the Underwriter Units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that the Underwriter Uniuts (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) will be entitled to registration rights.
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Private Units
The private units (including the private rights or private shares issuable upon conversion of such rights) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Securities,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor). The private units are otherwise identical to the units sold in this offering.
EarlyBird Units
The EarlyBird Units are identical to the private units.
Working Capital Loan Units
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender.
The units issuable upon the conversion of working capital loans (the “working capital loan units”) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Otherwise, the working capital loan units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that the securities underlying the working capital loan units will be entitled to registration rights.
Additionally, the units that have not already been separated will automatically separate into their component parts in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and will no longer be listed thereafter.
Common Stock
Prior to the date of this prospectus, there were 2,300,000 founder shares outstanding, all of which were held of record by our initial stockholders, so that our initial stockholders will own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming our initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the shares of common stock underlying the public rights, the Underwriter Units, the EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the units issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans). Up to 300,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited by our initial stockholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised. Upon the closing of this offering, 10,237,500 of our shares of common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of 300,000 founder shares by our initial stockholders) including:
| · | 8,000,000 shares of common stock underlying units issued as part of this offering; |
| · | 40,000 shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units; |
| · | 7,500 shares of common stock underlying the EarlyBird Units; |
| · | 190,000 shares of common stock underlying the private units; and |
| · | 2,000,000 founder shares held by our initial stockholders. |
If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, or the shares of common stock underlying the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans, or the shares of common stock underlying the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans).
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Stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Holders of common stock (including the founder shares, private placement shares and Underwriter Shares) will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders except as required by law. Unless specified in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, or as required by applicable provisions of the NRS or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, if we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of shares of common stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on the Nasdaq. We may not hold an annual meeting to appoint new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share (whether or not the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option). Our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares they hold in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, the underwriters have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their Underwriter Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension). In addition, the underwriters have agreed to vote any Underwriter Shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. Unlike many special purpose acquisition companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a stockholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated articles of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation requires these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, like many special purpose acquisition companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of our initial business combination. However, the participation of our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained.
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our stockholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And, as a result, such stockholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors and the underwriters have agreed to vote any founder shares and Underwriter Shares they hold and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares, the private shares and the Underwriter Shares, we would need only 329,376, or approximately 4.12%, of the 8,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the shares underlying the Underwriter Units and the private units are voted in favor of the transaction) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised and a quorum is present at the meeting). Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. Public stockholders who sell or redeem their stock into their share of the trust account still have the right to convert the rights that they received as part of the units.
Pursuant to our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we have until the completion window to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we may seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. If we seek stockholder approval for an extension, holders of public shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no 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 (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial stockholders and the underwriters have entered into agreements with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and Underwriter Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation. However, if our initial stockholders or management team acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.
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In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of shares, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
Founder Shares
Except as described below, the founder shares are identical to the shares of common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, and holders of founder shares have the same stockholder rights as public stockholders, except that (i) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, and (ii) our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (A) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares they hold in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (B) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares they hold in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (C) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or any extended period of time that we may have to consummate an initial business combination as a result of an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such time period. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination.
With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of: (i) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, provided, if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. Up to 300,000 founder shares will be forfeited by our initial stockholders depending on the exercise of the over-allotment option.
EarlyBird Shares
The EarlyBird Shares are identical to the shares included in the units sold in this offering, except that the EarlyBird Shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among other limited exceptions, to the officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
Underwriter Shares
The Underwriter Shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of our initial business combination. ThinkEquity has agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their Underwriter Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension). The shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners. Otherwise, the Underwriter Shares are identical to the shares of common stock underlying the units sold in this offering.
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Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock and provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue shares of preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred shares outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering.
Warrants
$15 Exercise Price Warrants
Each $15 Exercise Price Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of this offering and 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement) and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder.
The $15 Exercise Price Warrants (including the common stock issuable upon exercise such warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and 15 Exercise Price Warrants,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the initial purchasers of the 15 Exercise Price Warrants) and they will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable on a cashless basis. In addition, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City Time ten years after the consummation our initial business combination.
If holders of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering his, her or its warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our common stock (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” will mean, as of any date, the average last reported sale price of the common stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to such date.
Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (including the common stock issuable upon exercise of any of these warrants) until the date that is 30 days after the date we complete our initial business combination, except that, among other limited exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and $15 Exercise Price Warrants,” transfers can be made to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the sponsor.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) business days after the completion of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. We will use our best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement.
Rights
Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination, even if the holder of a public right converted all shares of common stock held by him, her or it in connection with the initial business combination or an amendment to our certificate of incorporation with respect to our pre-business combination activities. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-twnetieth (1/20) of a share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive his, her or its additional shares of common stock upon consummation of an initial business combination. The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of ours). If we enter into a definitive agreement for a business combination in which we will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the common stock will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into common stock basis.
We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 20 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from our assets held outside of the trust account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of an initial business combination. Additionally, in no event will we be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
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Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the closing of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, then we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of this offering (not including the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriter Units, the private units, or the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans). Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our Transfer Agent, Warrant Agent and Rights Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock, warrant agent for our warrants, and rights agent for our rights is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent,warrant agent, and rights agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company has agreed that it has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind to, or to any monies in, the trust account, and has irrevocably waived any right, title, interest or claim of any kind to, or to any monies in, the trust account that it may have now or in the future. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied, or a claim will only be able to be pursued, solely against us and our assets outside the trust account and not against the any monies in the trust account or interest earned thereon.
Amended and Restated Articles of incorporation
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of 65% of our common stock. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the shares of common stock underlying the public rights, the Underwriter Units, EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants or the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated articles of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Specifically, our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide, among other things, that:
| · | If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no 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 (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the requirements of other applicable law; |
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| · | Prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on our initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension) or (y) amend the foregoing provisions; |
| · | Although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our executive officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view; |
| · | If a stockholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. Whether or not we maintain our registration under the Exchange Act or our listing on NASDAQ, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) by one of the two methods listed above |
| · | So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ, NASDAQ rules require that we must not consummate an initial business combination with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination; |
| · | If our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their common stock (up to an aggregate of 15% for each public stockholder of the shares sold in this offering, as described in more detail in this prospectus) upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein; and |
| · | We will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Nevada law and our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Business Combinations
We will be subject to the provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, of the NRS regulating corporate takeovers upon completion of this offering. This statute generally prohibits a Nevada corporation with at least 200 stockholders of record from engaging in various “combination” transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of up to four years after the date of the transaction in which the person first became an interested stockholder, unless the combination or transaction was approved by the board of directors before such person became an interested stockholder or the combination is approved by the board of directors, if within two years after the date in which the person became an interested stockholder, and is approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least 60% (for a combination within two years after the date of the transaction in which the person first became an interested stockholder) or a majority (for combinations between two and four years after the date of the transaction in which the person first became an interested stockholder) of the outstanding voting power held by disinterested stockholders. Alternatively, a corporation may engage in a combination with an interested stockholder more than two years after such person becomes an interested stockholder if:
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| · | the consideration to be paid to the holders of the corporation’s stock, other than the interested stockholder, is at least equal to the highest of: (a) the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the two years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, plus interest compounded annually and less certain dividends paid, (b) the market value per share of common stock on the date of announcement of the combination or the date the interested stockholder acquired the shares, whichever is higher, plus interest compounded annually and less certain dividends paid, or (c) for holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock (plus accrued preferred dividends declared or due to such holders, unless such preferred dividends are already included in such liquidation value), if it is higher; and |
| · | the interested stockholder has not become the owner of any additional voting shares since the date of becoming an interested stockholder except by certain permitted transactions. |
A “combination” is generally defined to include (i) mergers or consolidations with the “interested stockholder” or an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of assets of the corporation, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to or with the interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder: (a) having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets (determined on a consolidated basis) of the corporation, (b) having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation or (c) representing more than 10% of the earning power or net income (determined on a consolidated basis) of the corporation, (iii) any issuance or transfer of securities to the interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, in one transaction or a series of transactions, having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation (other than under the exercise of warrants or rights to purchase shares offered, or a dividend or distribution made pro rata to all stockholders of the corporation), (iv) adoption of a plan or proposal for liquidation or dissolution of the corporation with the interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder under any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, and (v) certain other transactions having the effect of increasing the proportionate share of voting securities beneficially owned by the interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.
In general, an “interested stockholder” means any person who (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of a corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the corporation that beneficially owned, within two years prior to the date in question, 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the corporation.
We have opted out of the protections of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, of the NRS in our amended and restated articles of incorporation until our founder ceases to beneficially own at least 15% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
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Control Share Acquisitions
The “control share” provisions of Sections 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, of the NRS apply to “issuing corporations” that are Nevada corporations doing business, directly or through an affiliated corporation, in Nevada, and having at least 200 stockholders of record, including at least 100 of whom have addresses in Nevada appearing on the stock ledger of the corporation at all times during the 90 immediately preceding days. We will not be subject to these “control share” provisions unless we do business in Nevada. The control share statute prohibits an acquirer, under certain circumstances, from voting its “control shares” of an issuing corporation’s stock after crossing certain ownership threshold percentages, unless the acquirer obtains approval of the issuing corporation’s disinterested stockholders or unless the issuing corporation amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws within 10 days of the acquisition. The statute specifies three thresholds: one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third but less than a majority, and a majority or more, of the outstanding voting power of a corporation in the election of directors. Generally, once an acquirer crosses one of the foregoing thresholds, those shares acquired in an acquisition or offer to acquire in an acquisition and acquired within 90 days immediately preceding the date that the acquirer crosses one of the thresholds become “control shares,” and such control shares are deprived of the right to vote until disinterested stockholders restore the right. In addition, the corporation, if provided in its articles of incorporation or bylaws in effect on the tenth (10th) day following the acquisition of a controlling interest, may cause the redemption of all of the control shares at the average price paid for such shares if the acquirer does not deliver an “offeror’s statement” to the registered office of the corporation within 10 days following its acquisition of such “control shares” or, if such offeror’s statement is timely delivered, the stockholders do not accord the control shares full voting rights. If control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired a majority or more of all voting power, all other stockholders who did not vote in favor of authorizing voting rights to the control shares are entitled to demand payment for the fair value of their shares in accordance with statutory procedures established for dissenters’ rights.
We have opted out of these provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation until our founder ceases to beneficially own at least 15% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Exclusive forum for certain lawsuits
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will require, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for any or all actions, suits, proceedings, whether civil, administrative or investigative or that asserts any claim or counterclaim, (a) brought in the name or right of our company or on our behalf; (b) asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of our company to us or our stockholders; (c) arising or asserting a claim pursuant to any provision of Chapters 78 or 92A of the NRS or any provision of our amended and restated articles of incorporation or bylaws; (d) to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our amended and restated articles of incorporation or bylaws; or (e) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In the event that the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada does not have jurisdiction over any such action, then any other state district court located in the State of Nevada shall be the exclusive forum for such action. In the event that no state district court in the State of Nevada has jurisdiction over any such action, then a federal court located within the State of Nevada shall be the exclusive forum for such action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that this exclusive provision forum will not apply to suits arising under (i) the Exchange Act or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) the Securities Act.
Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Nevada law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court (either in the State of Nevada or otherwise) may determine that this provision is unenforceable or inapplicable to a particular claim due to choice-of-law considerations. To the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Special meeting of stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, by our Chief Executive Officer or by our Chairman.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice will need to be received by the company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
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Action by written consent
Nevada law permits stockholder action by written consent unless the corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise. Pursuant to Section 78.320 of the NRS, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent to such action is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having at least a majority of the voting power of all classes entitled to vote, or such different proportion that would be required for such an action at a meeting of the stockholders. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that stockholder action by written consent will not be permitted and that all stockholder actions must be taken at a meeting of our stockholders other than with respect to any action required or permitted to be taken exclusively by holders of our founder shares (including the appointment or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination), in which case such action may be taken by written consent.
Common Stock Consent Right
For so long as shares of our common stock are outstanding, we may not amend, alter or repeal any provision in our amended and restated articles of incorporation so as to adversely affect the relative rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of either such class of common stock as compared to those of the other class of common stock without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of each class of common stock whose relative rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations or restrictions are so affected.
Classified Board of Directors
Our board of directors will initially be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Subject to the terms of any preferred stock, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
Securities Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after this offering we will have 10,237,500 (or 11,743,500 if the underwriters’ over- allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the shares of common stock sold in this offering (8,000,000 shares of common stock if the underwriters’ over- allotment option is not exercised and 9,200,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any common stock purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the outstanding founder shares (2,000,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 2,300,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), all of the outstanding Underwriter Units (40,000 Underwriter Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 46,000 Underwriter Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), all of the 7,500 EarlyBird Units, all of the private shares (190,000 private shares regardless of whether the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option) and all of the outstanding 15 Exercise Price Warrants (1,000,000 warrants regardless of whether the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) will be restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.
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Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares, rights or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.
Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares, rights or warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
| ● | 1% of the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding, which will equal 102,375 shares immediately after this offering (or 117,435 if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option); or | |
| ● | the average weekly reported trading volume of the common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale. | |
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:
| ● | the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; | |
| ● | the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; |
| ● | the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and |
| ● | at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company. |
As a result, our initial stockholders and holders of Underwriter Units will be able to sell their founder shares, private units, private shares, private rights and the shares underlying the private rights, 15 Exercise Price Warrants, Underwriter Units, Underwriter Shares, Underwriter Rights and shares underlying the Underwriter Rights, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.
Registration Rights
The holders of the (i) founder shares, which were issued in a private placement prior to the closing of this offering, (ii) $15 Exercise Price Warrants, which will be issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and the shares of common stock underlying such $15 Exercise Price Warrants, (iii) Underwriter Shares and Underwriter Rights (and the shares of common stock underlying such Underwriter Rights), which will be issued as part of the Underwriter Units in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, (iv) EarlyBird Shares and EarlyBird Rights (and the shares of common stock underlying such EarlyBird Rights), which will be issued as part of the EarlyBird Units in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, (v) private shares and (vi) the shares of common stock and rights underlying the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans will have registration rights to require us to register a sale of any of our securities held by them pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement and assuming the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full and $1.5 million of working capital loans are converted into private units, we will be obligated to register up to 3,713,175 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants. The number of shares of common stock includes (i) 2,300,000 founder shares, (ii) 1,000,000 shares of common stock underlying the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, (iii) 46,000 Underwriter Shares, (iv) 7,500 EarlyBird Shares, (v) 190,000 private shares, (vi) 2,300 shares underlying the Underwriter Rights, (vii) 375 shares underlying the EarlyBird Rights, (viii) 9,500 shares of common stock underlying the private rights, (ix) 150,000 shares of common stock underlying the units issued upon conversion of working capital loans (the “working capital units”), and (x) 7,500 shares of common stock underlying the rights included in the working capital units. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
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Listing of Securities
We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “[_]U” commencing on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the common stock and rights will be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “[_]” and “[_]R,” respectively.
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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units (each consisting of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock, which we refer to collectively as our securities). Because the components of a unit are separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock components of the unit, as the case may be. As a result, the discussion below with respect to actual holders of common stock and rights should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying common stock and rights that comprise the units). This discussion applies only to securities that are held as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is applicable only to holders who purchased units for cash in this offering. This discussion assumes that the common stock and rights will trade separately and that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our common stock and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. This summary is based upon U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this prospectus, which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect.
This discussion is a summary only and does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including but not limited to the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain investment income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, including but not limited to:
| · | our founders, the sponsor, officers or directors; |
| · | financial institutions or financial services entities; |
| · | broker-dealers; |
| · | taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market tax accounting rules; |
| · | S Corporations; |
| · | tax-exempt entities; |
| · | individual retirement accounts or other tax deferred accounts; |
| · | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; |
| · | insurance companies; |
| · | regulated investment companies; |
| · | real estate investment trusts; |
| · | expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; |
| · | persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares or five percent or more of the total value of our shares; |
| · | persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services; |
| · | persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; |
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| · | persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to common stock or rights as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; |
| · | U.S. Holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| · | controlled foreign corporations; or |
| · | passive foreign investment companies. |
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our securities, the tax treatment of a partner, member or other beneficial owner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, member or other beneficial owner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner, member or other beneficial owner level. If you are a partner, member or other beneficial owner of a partnership holding our securities, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein. No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been or will be sought regarding any tax matter discussed herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion. This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes (such as gift and estate taxes).
You should consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
Personal Holding Company Status
We could be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock may be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not be a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently imposed at a rate of 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of common stock and the right based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each share of common stock and the right should be the stockholder’s tax basis in such share or right, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the share of common stock and the right comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the common stock and the right based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by each such unit holder based on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of shares of common stock and rights comprising units should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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The foregoing U.S. federal income tax treatment of the shares of common stock and rights and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “U.S. holder.” A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our units, shares of common stock or rights 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 treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| · | an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| · | a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person. |
Taxation of Distributions.
If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to U.S. holders of our common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends 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. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will 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 common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights” below.
Dividends we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder generally will constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at preferential long-term capital gains rates. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied, then a corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and non-corporate U.S. holders may be subject to tax on such dividend at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights.
Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock or rights which, in general, would include a redemption of common stock or rights that is treated as a sale of such securities as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock or rights. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock or rights so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period for the common stock is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
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Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the common stock or rights are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the common stock or the rights based upon the then relative fair market values of the common stock and the rights included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock or rights so disposed of. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock or rights generally will equal the U.S. holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of common stock or one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock) less, in the case of a share of common stock, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Redemption of Common Stock.
In the event that a U.S. holder’s common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Common Stock” or if we purchase a U.S. holder’s common stock in an open market transaction (such open market purchase of common stock by us is referred to as a “redemption” for the remainder of this discussion), the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption or purchase by us qualifies as a sale of the common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption or purchase by us qualifies as a sale of the common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights” above. If the redemption or purchase by us does not qualify as a sale of the common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions”. Whether a redemption or purchase by us qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning rights) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption or purchase by us. The redemption or purchase by us of common stock generally will be treated as a sale of the common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption or purchase by us (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by such U.S. holder. A U.S. holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. holder, as well as any stock the U.S. holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the rights. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately following the redemption or purchase by us of common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately before the redemption or purchase by us. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. holder’s interest if either (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed and the U.S. holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. holder does not constructively own any other shares of our stock (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning rights). The redemption or purchase by us of the common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption or purchase by us results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption or purchase by us will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption or purchase by us.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption or purchase by us will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. holder in the redeemed common stock will be added to the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its rights or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
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Satisfaction or Lapse of a Right.
The delivery of shares of common stock in satisfaction of a right is not expected to be a taxable event. The U.S. holder’s tax basis in the share of our common stock received upon receipt of shares with respect to a right generally should be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. holder’s initial investment in the right (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder’s purchase price for each unit that is allocated to the right, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”). The U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock received in satisfaction of the rights generally should begin on the date following receipt of shares (or possibly the date of receipt) with respect to a right and should not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the rights. If a right is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder may be allowed to recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the right. The treatment of the rights is uncertain under U.S. federal income tax law. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of the rights.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, shares of common stock and rights, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, common stock or rights who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| ● | a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates); |
| ● | a foreign corporation or |
| ● | an estate or trust that is not a U.S. holder; |
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or sale or other disposition of our securities.
Taxation of Distributions.
In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights” below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Dividends we pay to a Non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or, if a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder) will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an applicable IRS Form W-8). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States resident, subject to an applicable tax treaty providing otherwise. A Non-U.S. holder that is a corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).
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Satisfaction or Lapse of a Right.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holder’s exercise of a right, or the lapse of a right held by a Non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a right by a U.S. holder, as described under “U.S. Holders — Satisfaction or Lapse of a Right” above.
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights.
A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain realized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or rights (including an expiration or redemption of our rights), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, under certain tax treaties, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder); or |
| ● | we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. holder held our common stock, and, in the case where shares of our common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the shares of our common stock. There can be no assurance that our common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose. |
Unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate).
If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock or rights will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our common stock or rights from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50 percent of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Redemption of Common Stock.
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. holder’s common stock generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. holder’s common stock, as described under “U.S. Holders — Redemption of Common Stock” above, and the consequences of the redemption to the Non-U.S. holder will be as described above under “Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” and “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Rights,” as applicable. Because it may not be certain at the time a Non-U.S. holder is redeemed whether such Non-U.S. holder’s redemption will be treated as a sale of shares or a distribution constituting a dividend, and because such determination will depend in part on a Non-U.S. holder’s particular circumstances, we or the applicable withholding agent may not be able to determine whether (or to what extent) a Non-U.S. holder is treated as receiving a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, we or the applicable withholding agent may withhold tax at a rate of 30% on the gross amount of any consideration paid to a Non-U.S. holder in redemption of such Non-U.S. holder’s common stock unless special procedures are available to Non-U.S. holders to certify that they are entitled to exemptions from, or reductions in, such withholding tax. However, there can be no assurance that such special certification procedures will be available. A Non-U.S. holder generally may obtain a refund of any such excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the foregoing rules in light of their particular facts and circumstances.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our units, shares of common stock and rights. A Non-U.S. holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
All Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.
FATCA Withholding Taxes.
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends in respect of our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such withholding taxes, and a Non-U.S. holder might be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return to claim such refunds or credits.
Thirty percent withholding under FATCA was scheduled to apply to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of property that produces U.S.-source interest or dividends beginning on January 1, 2019, but on December 13, 2018, the IRS released proposed regulations that, if finalized in their proposed form, would eliminate the obligation to withhold on gross proceeds. Such proposed regulations also delayed withholding on certain other payments received from other foreign financial institutions that are allocable, as provided for under final Treasury Regulations, to payments of U.S.-source dividends, and other fixed or determinable annual or periodic income. Although these proposed Treasury Regulations are not final, taxpayers generally may rely on them until final Treasury Regulations are issued. All prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A GENERAL SUMMARY. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO YOU. EACH INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK AND RIGHTS BASED ON THE INVESTOR’S CIRCUMSTANCES.
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The company and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the units being offered. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters have agreed to purchase the number of units indicated in the following table.
| Underwriters | Number of Units | |||
| ThinkEquity LLC | ||||
| Total | 8,000,000 | |||
The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the units being offered, if any are taken, other than the units covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.
The company granted to the underwriters an option to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate additional 1,200,000 units at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus less underwriting discounts and commissions from the company to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of units than the total number set forth in the table above. The underwriters may exercise that option for 45 days.
The following table shows the total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by the company. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 1,200,000 additional units.
| Without Overallotment Option |
With Overallotment Option |
|||||||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 80,000,000 | $ | 92,000,000 | ||||||
| Underwriting commissions(1) | 0.10 | $ | 750,000 | $ | 870,000 | |||||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | 9.90 | $ | 79,250,000 | $ | 91,130,000 | ||||||
| (1) | The underwriter will be entitled to an underwriting discount equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the gross proceeds of this offering and (ii) an amount equal to $750,000 plus 1% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the over-allotment units. In addition to the cash compensation set forth herein, we have agreed to issue to the underwriters units equaling 0.5% of the units sold in this offering, or 40,000 units, or up to 46,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, each consisting of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Underwriter Units”), in a private placement to be completed concurrently with the consummation of this offering. Except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions, the Underwriter Units will be identical to the public units sold in this offering. |
The company estimates expenses payable in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions referred to above, will be approximately $1,108,500 (whether or not the underwriters overallotment option is exercised). The company has agreed to pay certain out-of-pocket expenses of the underwriters, including (i) background checks up to $15,000 in the aggregate, (ii) the $20,000 cost associated with data and communications expenses including the use of Ipreo’s book building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering, (iii) accountable road show expenses up to $15,000 and (iv) fees and expenses of the underwriters’ legal counsel in an amount not to exceed $90,000. Accountable expenses for the underwriters will not exceed $135,000 in the aggregate.
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as a financial advisor to the Company and will receive a fee of $250,000 and 7,500 EarlyBird Units at the closing of this offering.
Units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. After the initial offering of the units, the representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the units by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.
The company and its sponsors, officers, and directors have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to, except with the prior written consent of the underwriters, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus; provided, however, that the company may (1) issue and sell the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, (2) issue and sell the additional units to cover the underwriters’ over-allotment option (if any), (3) register with the SEC pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, the resale of the founder shares, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the rights and shares of common stock issuable upon separation of the private units and (4) issue securities in connection with a Business Combination. The underwriters in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.
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The company’s initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until: (i) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination; except to certain permitted transferees and under certain circumstances as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Securities”. In addition, we could agree to permit the holders of our founder shares to transfer shares or agree to cancel such securities. Although no such transfers or cancellations are contemplated, we could agree to permit such transfer or cancellation to facilitate the closing of a business combination. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the company’s initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. The company refers to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock- up.
The private placement securities (including the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the private units) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the closing of the company’s initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Securities”).
Assuming no liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction takes place, lock-ups on the founder shares and private placement securities would expire as follows:
| Founder Shares | Private Placement Securities | |
| (i) with respect to 50% of the founder shares, the earlier of (x) twelve months after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination or (y) the date on which the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the founder shares, twelve months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination | 30 days after the completion of the business combination |
The limited liability company agreement of our sponsor provides that its membership interests may only be transferred to our officers or directors or other persons affiliated with our sponsor, or in connection with estate planning transfers.
We have agreed to issue to ThinkEquity and/or its designees 40,000 Underwriter Units (or 46,000 Underwriter Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) upon the consummation of this offering. ThinkEquity has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any such Underwriter Units until the completion of our initial business combination. The Underwriter Units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that the Underwriter Units (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) will be entitled to registration rights. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, holders of at least 15% of the then outstanding number of registrable securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. The demand and piggyback registration rights being granted to ThinkEquity LLC and/or its designees are subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). Accordingly, ThinkEquity LLC and/or its designees may not exercise their demand and “piggyback” registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements.
In addition, ThinkEquity has agreed to (i) waive its redemption rights with respect to its Underwriter Shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive its redemption rights with respect to their Underwriter Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their Underwriter Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date pursuant to an approved extension). The shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners.
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Subject to certain conditions, we granted ThinkEquity for a period beginning on the closing of this offering and ending on the later of 24 months after the closing of this offering and 12 months after the consummation of our business combination, a right of first refusal to act as (i) exclusive financial advisor in connection with all of our proposed business combinations for a fee of 3.5% of the proceeds of the offering (subject to our right to allocate up to 50% of such fee to another financial institution in our sole discretion), and (ii) sole investment banker, sole book- runner and/or sole placement agent, at ThinkEquity’s sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings, during such period for us or any successor to us or any of our subsidiaries, on terms agreed to by both us and ThinkEquity in good faith. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the units. The initial public offering price has been negotiated among the company and the underwriters. The determination of the per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if the company was an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, the company’s management, the company’s capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to the company.
An application will be made to quote the units, common stock and rights on NASDAQ under the symbol “[_]U”, “[_]” and “[_]R”, respectively.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell units in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of units than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional units for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional units or purchasing units in the open market. In determining the source of units to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional units pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional units for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of units made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the closing of the offering.
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The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representative has repurchased units sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the company’s units, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the units. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on NASDAQ in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a “Member State”), no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), except that offers of units may be made to the public in that Member State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:
(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;
(b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representative for any such offer; or
(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of units shall require the company or any Representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any units in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
United Kingdom
The underwriters have represented and agreed that:
(a) they have only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the units in circumstances in which Section 21 (1) of the F SMA does not apply to the company; and
(b) they have complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the units in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Canada
The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3 (1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
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Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this offering memorandum (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Hong Kong
The units may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the units may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do s n under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.
Singapore
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the units be offered or sold, on be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(l) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1 A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1 A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).
Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.
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Japan
The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.
The company has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non- financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus is being passed upon for us by Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York with respect to the units and rights and by Holland & Hart LLP with respect to the common stock and matters of Nevada law. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Blank Rome LLP, New York, New York.
The audited financial statements of FG Merger II Corp., as of December 31, 2023, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the period from September 22, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023 and for the period ended December 31, 2023, included in this prospectus have been audited by Fruci & Associates II, PLLC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-l under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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| Financial Statements of FG Merger II Corp.: | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-2 |
| Balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 | F-2 |
| Statement of Operations for the six months period ended June 30 2024 | F-3 |
| Statement of Change in Stockholders’ Equity for the six months period ended June 30, 2024 | F-4 |
| Statement of Cash Flows for the six months period ended June 30, 2024 | F-5 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | F-6 |
F-1
Balance Sheet
June 30, 2024
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
(unaudited) | (audited) | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 54,745 | $ | 56,248 | ||||
| Deferred offering costs | 114,670 | 114,670 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 169,415 | $ | 170,918 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 2,440 | $ | 1,761 | ||||
| Accrued offering costs | 20,939 | 20,939 | ||||||
| Promissory note | 125,000 | 125,000 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 148,379 | $ | 147,700 | ||||
| Commitment and contingencies | - | - | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; 2,156,250 issued and outstanding | $ | 216 | $ | 216 | ||||
| Additional paid in capital | $ | 24,787 | $ | 24,784 | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (3,964 | ) | (1,782 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 21,036 | 23,218 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 169,415 | $ | 170,918 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements
F-2
FG Merger II Corp.
For the six months period ended June 30, 2024
| For the period | ||||||||
| Six months | September 30, | |||||||
| ended | 2023 (inception) | |||||||
| June 30, | To December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| (audited) | ||||||||
| Formation costs | $ | - | $ | 1,645 | ||||
| General and administrative expenses | 2,182 | 137 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (2,182 | ) | $ | (1,782 | ) | ||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 2,156,250 | 2,156,250 | ||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (0.001 | ) | $ | (0.001 | ) | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-3
FG Merger II Corp.
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For the six month period ended June 30, 2024
| Common | Common | Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock | Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 20, 2023 (inception) | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Issuance of founder shares | 2,156,250 | $ | 216 | $ | 24,784 | $ | - | $ | 25,000 | |||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (1,782 | ) | (1,782 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 2,156,250 | $ | 216 | $ | 24,784 | $ | (1,782 | ) | $ | 23,218 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (2,182 | ) | (2,182 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2024 | 2,156,250 | $ | 216 | $ | 24,784 | $ | (3,964 | ) | $ | 21,036 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-4
FG Merger II Corp.
For the six month period ended June 30, 2024
| For the period | ||||||||
| Six months | September 30, | |||||||
| ended | 2023 (inception) | |||||||
| June 30, | To December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (2,182 | ) | $ | (1,782 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Deferred offering cost | - | (114,670 | ) | |||||
| Accrued offering cost | - | 20,939 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 679 | 1,761 | ||||||
| Net cash provided(used) by operating activities | $ | (1,503 | ) | $ | (93,752 | ) | ||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
| Promissory note | - | 125,000 | ||||||
| Founder share issuance | - | 25,000 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | - | 150,000 | ||||||
| Net increase(decrease) in cash | $ | (1,503 | ) | $ | 56,248 | |||
| Cash at beginning of period | 56,248 | - | ||||||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 54,745 | $ | 56,248 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-5
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Nevada on September 20, 2023. The Company was formed for the purpose of merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”).
Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus on businesses in the financial services industry. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of June 30,2024, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity through June 30, 2024 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (“Proposed Offering”), which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate nonoperating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through i) the Proposed Offering of 8,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (or 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of common stock included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) which is discussed in Note 3, ii) the sale of 1,000,000 $15.00 exercise price warrants (the “$15 Private Warrants”) at a price of $0.10 per $15 Private Warrant, iii) the sale of 190,000 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Private Units”) in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, FG Merger Investors II LLC (the “Sponsor”), directors, officers, and advisors that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Offering. Each Private Unit will consist of one common share and one right. right (“Private Unit Right”). Each whole Private Unit Right will entitle the holder to convert the right to one-twentieth share of common stock.
The Company intends to list the Units on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“Nasdaq”). The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Offering and sale of the $15 Private Warrants, and Private Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. Nasdaq rules provide that the Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account). The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
Upon the closing of the Proposed Offering, management has agreed that $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Offering will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below.
F-6
The Company will provide its stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. In connection with a proposed Business Combination, the Company may seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed Business Combination. The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting fees, of at least $5,000,000 upon or immediately prior to such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.
If the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to 15% or more of the Public Shares without the Company’s prior written consent.
The holders of Public Shares will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (including any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.
If a stockholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its amended and restated articles of incorporation, offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
The Sponsor, officers, directors and advisors (the “Initial Stockholders”) have agreed (a) to vote their Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) as well as any common shares underlying the Private Units, and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company provides dissenting public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment; (c) not to redeem any shares (including the Founder Shares as well as any common shares underlying the Private Units) into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or to sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination if the Company does not seek stockholder approval in connection therewith) or a vote to amend the provisions of the amended and restated articles of incorporation relating to stockholders’ rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the Founder Shares, the Private Units and $15 (including underlying securities) shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the Initial Stockholders will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination.
The Company will have until 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering to complete a Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding 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 (net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) andtaxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidation distribution with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the Combination period.
F-7
The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company, if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the Trust Account to below $10.00 per share, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Going Concern Consideration
At June 30, 2024, the Company had $ 56,248 cash and a working capital surplus of $21,036. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its Proposed Offering and Business Combination plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Offering as discussed in Note 3, as well as sale of $15 Private Warrants and Private Units as discussed above. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars and conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging growth company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
F-8
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023.
Deferred offering costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal, underwriter expenses and audit expense incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to stockholders equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering. Should the Proposed Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses incurred, will be charged to operations.
Income taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2024and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. Company’s year end is December 31 and no statutory tax deadline has yet occurred.
There was no provision for income taxes for the six month period June 30, 2024 and for the period from September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023.
Net loss per share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the Initial Stockholders. The Company had 2,156,250 founder shares outstanding as of June 30, 2024.
F-9
Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature. The Company did not have any financial instruments as of June 30, 2024.
Recently issued accounting standard
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 3. PROPOSED OFFERING
Pursuant to the Proposed Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 8,000,000 Units (or 9,200,000 Units if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one right to receive one-twentieth common share (“Public Right”).(see Note 7).
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
The Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Private Warrants at a price of $0.10 per $15 Private Warrant, 3, and 190,000 Private Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, in each case, from the Company in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Offering. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of $15 Private Warrants, and Private Units will be $2,000,000. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the $15 Private Warrants and the Private Unit Warrants will expire worthless. The $15 Private Warrants will be non-redeemable for cash and exercisable on a cashless basis. Each $15 Private Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one share of common stock at its respective exercise price. Each Private Right will entitle the holder to receive one-twentieth of common shares.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On October 6, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,156,250 shares of common stock (the “Founder Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash. On October 18, 2023, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 465,000 Founder Shares to members of the Company's management, board of directors and senior advisors, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,691,250 Founder Shares The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to [300,000] shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Initial Stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Offering (assuming the Initial Stockholders do not purchase any Public Shares in the Proposed Offering and excluding the securities underlying the $15 Private Warrants, the Private Units).
The Initial Stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until, with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of (i) twelve months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after a Business Combination, with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, 12 months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier, in each case, if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Public Shares for cash, securities or other property.
F-10
Promissory Notes
On October 6, 2023, the Company issued a Promissory Note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $150,000. As of June 30, 2024, there was 125,000 outstanding under the Promissory Notes. The Promissory Notes are noninterest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Proposed Offering or (ii) the date on which the Company determines not to conduct the Proposed Offering.
Due to Sponsor
Included in the accrued offering cost on the Company’s balance sheet, $25,000 is due to Sponsor for expenses paid by the Sponsor on behalf of the Company.
Administrative Services Agreement
Upon closing of the Proposed Offering, the Company intends to enter into an administrative services agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) with the Sponsor whereby the Sponsor will perform certain services for the Company for a monthly fee of $15,000.
Both executive officer and a director of the Company will serve as managers of the Sponsor at close of the Proposed Offering.
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, the Private Units, the $15 Private Warrants (and their underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Offering. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any registration statements pursuant to such registration rights.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments at the Proposed Offering price.
The underwriter and the manager will be entitled to a underwriting discount equal to the lesser of (i) 750,000 (ii) an amount equal to $750,000 plus 1% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Over-Allotment Units.
Financial Advisor
Upon closing of the Proposed Offering, the Company will pay $250,000 to the financial advisor.
NOTE 7. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock – The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001. There were 2,156,250 Founder Shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024. The Founder Shares will be exchanged into shares of common stock prior to or at the completion of the Proposed Offering.
F-11
Rights – Public Rights will entitle the holder to receive one-twentieth common share per each Public Right. The Company will have 400,000 or (460,000 Public Rights if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).
Warrants —
The $15 Private Warrants will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $15.00 per each share, will be exercisable for a period of 10 years from the date of Business Combination, will be non-redeemable, and may be exercised on a cashless basis. Additionally, $15 Private Warrants and the shares issuable upon the exercise of the $15 Private Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. The Company will have 1,000,000 $15 Private Warrant outstanding at the close of proposed offering.
The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described above, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period , the $15 Private Warrants may expire worthless.
NOTE 8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On August 22, 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares, an increase of 143,750 founder compared to initial founder shares issued.
F-12
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of FG Merger II Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of FG Merger II Corp. (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2023, and the related statement of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flow for the period from September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its Proposed Offering and Business Combination plans. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there were no critical audit matters.
Fruci & Associates II, PLLC – PCAOB ID #05525 We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
Spokane, Washington | |
| August 22, 2024 | |
F-2
FG Merger II Corp.
December 31, 2023
| ASSETS | ||||
| Current assets | ||||
| Cash | $ | 56,248 | ||
| Deferred offering costs | 114,670 | |||
| Total assets | $ | 170,918 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 1,761 | ||
| Accrued offering costs | 20,939 | |||
| Promissory note | 125,000 | |||
| Total liabilities | $ | 147,700 | ||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; 2,156,250 issued and outstanding | $ | 216 | ||
| Additional paid in capital | $ | 24,784 | ||
| Accumulated deficit | (1,782 | ) | ||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 23,218 | |||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 170,918 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements
F-3
FG Merger II Corp.
For the period from September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023
| Formation costs | $ | 1,645 | ||
| General and administrative expenses | 137 | |||
| Net loss | $ | (1,782 | ) | |
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||
| Basic and diluted | 2,156,250 | |||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (0.001 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-4
FG Merger II Corp.
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For the period ended September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023
| Common | Common | Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock | Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 20, 2023 (inception) | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Issuance of founder shares | 2,156,250 | $ | 216 | $ | 24,784 | $ | - | $ | 25,000 | |||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (1,782 | ) | (1,782 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 2,156,250 | $ | 216 | $ | 24,784 | $ | (1,782 | ) | $ | 23,218 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-5
FG Merger II Corp.
For the period ended September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||
| Net loss | $ | (1,782 | ) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||
| Deferred offering cost | (114,670 | ) | ||
| Deferred accrued offering cost | 20,939 | |||
| Accounts payable | 1,761 | |||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | (93,752) | ||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||
| Promissory note | 125,000 | |||
| Founder share issuance | 25,000 | |||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 150,000 | |||
| Net increase in cash | $ | 56,248 | ||
| Cash at beginning of period | - | |||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 56,248 | ||
| Supplemental disclosure for non-cash financing activities | ||||
| Accrual of offering costs | $ | 114,670 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-6
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Nevada on September 20, 2023. The Company was formed for the purpose of merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”).
Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus on businesses in the financial services industry. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity through December 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (“Proposed Offering”), which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate nonoperating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through i) the Proposed Offering of 8,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (or 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of common stock included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) which is discussed in Note 3, ii) the sale of 1,000,000 $15.00 exercise price warrants (the “$15 Private Warrants”) at a price of $0.10 per $15 Private Warrant, iii) the sale of 190,000 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Private Units”) in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, FG Merger Investors II LLC (the “Sponsor”), directors, officers, and advisors that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Offering. Each Private Unit will consist of one common share and one right. right (“Private Unit Right”). Each whole Private Unit Right will entitle the holder to convert the right to one-twentieth share of common stock.
The Company intends to list the Units on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“Nasdaq”). The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Offering and sale of the $15 Private Warrants, and Private Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. Nasdaq rules provide that the Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account). The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
Upon the closing of the Proposed Offering, management has agreed that $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Offering will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below.
F-7
The Company will provide its stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. In connection with a proposed Business Combination, the Company may seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed Business Combination. The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting fees, of at least $5,000,000 upon or immediately prior to such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.
If the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to 15% or more of the Public Shares without the Company’s prior written consent.
The holders of Public Shares will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (including any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.
If a stockholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its amended and restated articles of incorporation, offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
The Sponsor, officers, directors and advisors (the “Initial Stockholders”) have agreed (a) to vote their Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) as well as any common shares underlying the Private Units, and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company provides dissenting public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment; (c) not to redeem any shares (including the Founder Shares as well as any common shares underlying the Private Units) into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or to sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination if the Company does not seek stockholder approval in connection therewith) or a vote to amend the provisions of the amended and restated articles of incorporation relating to stockholders’ rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the Founder Shares, the Private Units and $15 (including underlying securities) shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the Initial Stockholders will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination.
The Company will have until 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering to complete a Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding 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 (net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) andtaxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidation distribution with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the Combination period.
F-8
The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company, if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the Trust Account to below $10.00 per share, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Going Concern Consideration
At December 31, 2023, the Company had $ 56,248 cash and a working capital surplus of $23,218 . The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its Proposed Offering and Business Combination plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Offering as discussed in Note 3, as well as sale of $15 Private Warrants and Private Units as discussed above. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars and conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging growth company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
F-9
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023.
Deferred offering costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal, underwriter expenses and audit expense incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to stockholders equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering. Should the Proposed Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses incurred, will be charged to operations.
Income taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31,2023 and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. Company’s year end is December 31 and no statutory tax deadline has yet occurred.
There was no provision for income taxes for the period from September 20, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023.
Net loss per share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the Initial Stockholders. The Company had 2,156,250 founder shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023.
F-10
Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature. The Company did not have any financial instruments as of December 31, 2023.
Recently issued accounting standard
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 3. PROPOSED OFFERING
Pursuant to the Proposed Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 8,000,000 Units (or 9,200,000 Units if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one right to receive one-twentieth common share (“Public Right”).(see Note 7).
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
The Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Private Warrants at a price of $0.10 per $15 Private Warrant, 3, and 190,000 Private Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, in each case, from the Company in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Offering. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of $15 Private Warrants, and Private Units will be $2,000,000. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the $15 Private Warrants and the Private Unit Warrants will expire worthless. The $15 Private Warrants will be non-redeemable for cash and exercisable on a cashless basis. Each $15 Private Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one share of common stock at its respective exercise price. Each Private Right will entitle the holder to receive one-twentieth of common shares.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On October 6, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,156,250 shares of common stock (the “Founder Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash. On October 18, 2023, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 465,000 Founder Shares to members of the Company's management, board of directors and senior advisors, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,691,250 Founder Shares The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to [300,000] shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Initial Stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Offering (assuming the Initial Stockholders do not purchase any Public Shares in the Proposed Offering and excluding the securities underlying the $15 Private Warrants, the Private Units).
The Initial Stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until, with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of (i) twelve months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after a Business Combination, with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, 12 months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier, in each case, if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Public Shares for cash, securities or other property.
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Promissory Notes
On October 6, 2023, the Company issued a Promissory Note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $150,000. As of December 31, 2023, there was 125,000 outstanding under the Promissory Notes. The Promissory Notes are noninterest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Proposed Offering or (ii) the date on which the Company determines not to conduct the Proposed Offering.
Due to Sponsor
Included in the accrued offering cost on the Company’s balance sheet, $25,000 is due to Sponsor for expenses paid by the Sponsor on behalf of the Company.
Administrative Services Agreement
Upon closing of the Proposed Offering, the Company intends to enter into an administrative services agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) with the Sponsor whereby the Sponsor will perform certain services for the Company for a monthly fee of $15,000.
Both executive officer and a director of the Company will serve as managers of the Sponsor at close of the Proposed Offering.
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, the Private Units, the $15 Private Warrants (and their underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Offering. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any registration statements pursuant to such registration rights.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,200,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments at the Proposed Offering price.
The underwriter and the manager will be entitled to a underwriting discount equal to the lesser of (i) 750,000 (ii) an amount equal to $750,000 plus 1% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Over-Allotment Units.
Financial Advisor
Upon closing of the Proposed Offering, the Company will pay $250,000 to the financial advisor.
NOTE 7. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock – The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001. There were 2,156,250 Founder Shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023. The Founder Shares will be exchanged into shares of common stock prior to or at the completion of the Proposed Offering.
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Rights – Public Rights will entitle the holder to receive one-twentieth common share per each Public Right. Company will have 400,000 or ( 460,000 Public Rights if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).
Warrants –
The $15 Private Warrants will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $15.00 per each share, will be exercisable for a period of 10 years from the date of Business Combination, will be non-redeemable, and may be exercised on a cashless basis. Additionally, $15 Private Warrants and the shares issuable upon the exercise of the $15 Private Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Company will have 1,000,000 $15 Private Warrant outstanding at the close of proposed offering.
The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described above, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period , the $15 Private Warrants may expire worthless.
NOTE 8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On August 22, 2024, the Company issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares, an increase of 143,750 founder compared to initial founder shares issued.
F-13
8,000,000 Units
FG Merger II Corp.
|
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS |
ThinkEquity
, 2024
Through and including __, 2024 (the 25th day after the date of this offering), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
| SEC expenses | 15,000 | |||
| FINRA expenses | 15,000 | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 39,000 | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 30,000 | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | 200,000 | |||
| Transfer Agent Fee | 7,500 | |||
| NASDAQ listing and filing fees | 80,000 | |||
| Director & Officers liability insurance premiums | 312,000 | |||
| Underwriter expenses | 135,000 | |||
| EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. advisory fee | 250,000 | |||
| Miscellaneous | 25,000 | |||
| Total | $ | 1,108,500 |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 78.7502(1) of the Nevada Revised Statutes, or “NRS,” allows us to indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action (except an action by or in our right, which is known as a “derivative action”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, against expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he or she either (i) acted in a good faith manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful, or (ii) is protected under the Nevada law that provides that directors and officers are not liable for any damages for any act or failure to act in the capacity of a director or officer other than in circumstances where both (a) the presumption that the director or officer acted in good faith, on an informed basis and with a view to the interests of the corporation has been rebutted, and (b) the act or failure to act of the director or officer is proven to have been a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer and such breach is proven to have involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. Under NRS 78.7502(2), a similar standard of care applies to derivative actions, with the exception of the standard applying to criminal actions. Under NRS 78.7502, decisions as to whether the payment of discretionary indemnification is proper are to be made by a majority vote of our stockholders, a quorum consisting of disinterested directors, by written opinion of independent legal counsel if such quorum of disinterested directors either cannot be obtained or can be obtained but requests such written opinion . NRS 78.751 requires us to indemnify directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in defending an action to the extent they are successful on the merits. We may also pay expenses as they are incurred and in advance of a final disposition of the action if we receive an undertaking by such director or officer re repay the amount if it is determined by a court that such person was not entitled to be indemnified.
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Our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize us to indemnify and to advance expenses to each current, former or prospective director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Sections 78.7502 and 78.751 of the NRS, or any successor provision of Nevada law allowing greater indemnification or advancement of expenses.
Our bylaws, which we intend to adopt immediately prior to the closing of this offering, will provide, among other things, that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, we shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of our company, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by him in connection with such proceeding.
We shall also pay the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition of any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of our company or, while a director or officer of our company, is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
To the extent that a director, officer, or employee or agent of our company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
The right to indemnification which will be conferred by our bylaws is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the NRS requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, bylaws or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
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Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation or bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our bylaws will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws.
Our bylaws also provide for a right of an indemnitee to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. In addition, our bylaws permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the NRS.
We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement.
These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Nevada law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriter and the underwriter has agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
On October 6, 2023, FG Merger Investors II LLC, our sponsor, purchased an aggregate of 2,156,250 shares of our common stock (the "founder shares"), in exchange for a capital contribution of $25,000 at an average purchase price of approximately $0.012 per share. On October 18, 2023, the sponsor transferred an aggregate of 465,000 founder shares to members of the Company's management,board of directors and senior advisors, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,691,250 founder shares. On [_], 2024, we issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 founder shares for every issued and outstanding founder share, or an aggregate of 143,750 founder shares (the “Dividend Shares”), resulting in our initial stockholders holding an aggregate of 2,300,000 founder shares. On [_], 2024, our directors, officers and senior advisors transferred 31,000 Dividend Shares to the sponsor. On [_], 2024, the sponsor transferred an aggregate of 150,000 founder shares to officers of the Company, resulting in the Sponsor holding 1,685,000 founder shares. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 9,200,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full and therefore that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering (excluding the shares of common stock underlying the public rights, the Underwriter Units, the EarlyBird Units, the private units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the units issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans). Up to 300,000 of these shares will be forfeited by the sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised.
Our sponsor is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. Each of the equity holders in our sponsor is an accredited investor under Rule 501 of Regulation D. The sole business of our sponsor is to act as the company’s sponsor in connection with this offering. The limited liability company agreement of our sponsor provides that its membership interests may only be transferred to our officers or directors or other persons affiliated with our sponsor, or in connection with estate planning transfers.
Our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants at $0.10 per warrant in a private placement occurring simultaneously with the closing of this offering. In addition, our sponsor (and/or its designees) has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 190,000 private units, each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
II-3
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
* Previously filed.
** To be filed by amendment.
II-4
(b) Financial Statements. See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.
II-5
Item 17. Undertakings.
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser. |
| (b) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (c) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: |
| (1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
| (2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Itasca, State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of August, 2024.
| FG Merger II Corp. | ||
| By: | /s/ Larry Swets, Jr. | |
| Name: | Larry Swets, Jr. | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Hassan R. Baqar his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including pre- and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name | Position | Date | ||
| /s/ Larry Swets, Jr. | Chief Executive Officer | August 22, 2024 | ||
| Larry Swets, Jr. | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Hassan R. Baqar | Chief Financial Officer | August 22, 2024 | ||
| Hassan R. Baqar | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| /s/ D. Kyle Cerminara | Chairman of the Board | August 22, 2024 | ||
| D. Kyle Cerminara | ||||
| /s/ Andrew B. McIntyre | Director | August 22, 2024 | ||
| Andrew B. McIntyre |
| /s/ Scott D. Wollney | Director | August 22, 2024 | ||
| Scott D. Wollney | ||||
| /s/ Richard E. Govignon | Director | August 22, 2024 | ||
| Richard E. Govignon |
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Exhibit 1.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
between
FG MERGER II CORP.
and
THINKEQUITY LLC
as Representative of the Several Underwriters
Dated: [ • ], 2024
FG MERGER II CORP.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
[•], 2024
ThinkEquity LLC
17 State Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10004
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with ThinkEquity LLC (the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto (if any), for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “Underwriters” or, each underwriter individually, an “Underwriter”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1 Firm Securities.
1.1.1 Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters and the Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 8,000,000 units (the “Firm Units”) of the Company, as set forth opposite the respective names of the Underwriters on Schedule A hereto, at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of an aggregate of $750,000 or approximately $9.906 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one share of common stock, $0.0001 par value, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), and one rights (the “Rights”) to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of Common Stock upon the consummation by the Company of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Firm Units will trade separately on the fifty second (52nd) day following the date hereof unless the Representative determines to allow earlier separate trading. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, in no event will the Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Firm Units trade separately until (i) the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Current Report on Form 8-K that includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placements (as defined in Section 1.4.2) and updated financial information with respect to any proceeds the Company receives from the exercise of the Over-allotment Option (defined below) if such option is exercised prior to the filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, and (ii) the Company has filed with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K and issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin.
1.1.2 Payment and Delivery. (1) Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the second (2nd) Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Units (as defined below), or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Blank Rome LLP, counsel to the Underwriters (“Blank Rome”), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission). The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is called the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $80,000,000 of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units and Private Placements (as defined in Section 1.4.2) shall be deposited in the trust account (“Trust Account”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below), as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”). The remaining proceeds (less commissions and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement), if any, shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of the Firm Units in book-entry form through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver any of the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “Public Stockholders” means the holders of shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including the Sponsor (defined below) to the extent it acquires such shares of Common Stock in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such shares of Common Stock). “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 authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City; provided, however, for clarification, banking institutions or trust companies shall not be deemed to be authorized or obligated by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in New York City are generally are open for use by customers on such day.
2
1.2 Over-Allotment Option.
1.2.1 Option Units. The Representative is hereby granted an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 units (the “Option Units”), the gross proceeds of which will be deposited in the Trust Account, for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall be purchased for each account of the several Underwriters in the same proportion as the number of Firm Units, set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A hereto, bears to the total number of Firm Units (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate fractions) at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $0.10 per Option Unit. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Common Stock and the Rights included in the Units, and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representative to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit will be $10.00 per Option Unit. For the avoidance of doubt, the Underwriters are not entitled to receive any discounts or commissions on the Option Units purchased by them.
1.2.2 Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45 days after the effective date (“Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof). The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing in accordance with Section 10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units (each such date, an “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time and in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of Blank Rome or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
1.2.3 Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $10.00 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representative of the Option Units in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC for the account of the Representative. The Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests in writing not less than two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for the applicable Option Units.
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1.3 Representative’s Securities.
1.3.1 Units. As additional consideration, the Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative (and/or its designees) an aggregate of 40,000 (or up to 46,000 Units if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) Units (the “Representative’s Units”). The Representative’s Units are identical to the Firm Units, except that the Representative’s Units will be purchased in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) and will not become freely tradable until after certain conditions are met or the resale of such Representative Units is registered under the Act. The Representative’s Units, the Common Stock included in the Representative’s Units (the “Representative’s Shares”) and the Rights included in the Representative’s Units (the “Representative’s Rights”) and the Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Representative’s Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.”
1.3.2 Transfer and other Restrictions. The Representative hereby agrees not to transfer, assign or sell any such Representative’s Securities until the completion of the initial Business Combination. In addition, the Representative hereby agrees (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to the Representative’s Shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to the Representative’s Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the public shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the Representative’s Shares if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The Representatives will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Shares, or cause the Representative’s Shares to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Representative’s Shares by any person, for a period of 180 days (pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of the Conduct Rules of FINRA) following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) the Representative or an underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, (ii) a bona fide officer, partner, registered person or affiliate of the Representative or of any such underwriter or selected dealer or (iii) the issuer in a transaction exempt from registration with the Commission. On and after the 181st day following the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. The Representative further agrees to vote in favor of any initial Business Combination presented to the Company’s stockholders.
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1.3.3 Delivery and Payment. Delivery and payment for the Representative’s Units shall be made on the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as applicable. On such date, the Company shall deliver to the Representative or its designees upon payment therefor, the Representative’s Units in book-entry form in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.
1.3.4 Representations and Warranties of the Underwriters. The Representative, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
1.3.4.1 Accredited Investor. It is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D under the Act, and acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance, among other things, on a private placement exemption to “accredited investors” under the Act and similar exemptions under state law.
1.3.4.2 Intent. It is purchasing the Representative’s Units solely for investment purposes, for its own account (and/or for the account or benefit of its members or affiliates, as permitted, pursuant to the terms hereof), and not with a view to the distribution thereof in violation of the Act and it has no present arrangement to sell the Representative’s Securities to or through any person or entity except as may be permitted hereunder. It shall not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Representative’s Securities unless in compliance with the Act.
1.3.4.3 Restrictions on Transfer. It acknowledges and understands that the Representative’s Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Act. The Representative’s Securities have not been registered under the Act and, if in the future it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Representative’s Securities, such Representative’s Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Act, if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable Representative’s Securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it acknowledges and understands that the Representative’s Securities are subject to transfer restrictions as described in Section 1.3.2 hereof. It agrees that if any transfer of its Representative’s Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company with respect to such transfer. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, it agrees that it will not resell the Representative’s Securities (unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms hereof). It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Representative’s Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
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1.3.4.4 Sophisticated Investor.
(a) It (a) has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits, risks and benefits of the investment in the Representative’s Securities and (b) has been granted the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive satisfactory answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and the terms and conditions of the investment in the Representative’s Securities and has had the opportunity to obtain and has obtained any additional information which it deems necessary regarding such purchase.
(b) It is aware that an investment in the Representative’s Securities is highly speculative and subject to substantial risks because, among other things, (a) the Representative’s Securities are subject to transfer restrictions and have not been registered under the Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is available and (b) each of the Underwriters has waived its redemption rights with respect to the Representative’s Shares as set forth in Section 1.3.2 hereof, and the Representative’s Shares held by it are not entitled to, and have no right, interest or claim to any monies held in the Trust Account, and accordingly it may suffer a loss of a portion or all of its investment in the Representative’s Securities. It is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Representative’s Securities for an indefinite period of time.
1.3.4.5 No Legal Advice from Company. It acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, it is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
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1.3.4.6 Reliance on Representations and Warranties. It understands the Representative’s Units are being offered and sold to Representative in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of its representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
1.3.4.7 No General Solicitation. It is not subscribing for the Representative’s Units as a result of or subsequent to any general solicitation or general advertising, including but not limited to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting or in a registration statement with respect to the Offering filed with the Commission.
1.3.4.8 Legend. It acknowledges and agrees the certificates (if any) evidencing each of the Representative’s Securities shall bear a restrictive legend, in form and substance substantially as set forth in Section 1.3.5 hereof.
1.3.5 Legend. The certificates (if any) evidencing the Representative’s Securities will bear the following restrictive legend (the “Legend”) and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THIS CORPORATION, IS AVAILABLE.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PURSUANT TO AN UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT BETWEEN FG MERGER CORP. (THE “CORPORATION”), AND THINKEQUITY LLC AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT.”
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1.4 Private Placements and Advisor Securities.
1.4.1 Founder Shares. On October 6, 2023, the Company issued to FG Merger Investors II LLC (the “Sponsor”) for an aggregate consideration of $25,000, 2,156,250 shares of Common Stock in a private placement exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. On [•], 2024, the Company issued a dividend of approximately 0.07 shares of Common Stock for every issued and outstanding share, vesting in an aggregate of 2,300,000 shares of Common Stock (the Founder Shares”). No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the purchase of Founder Shares. In October 2023 and August 2024, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 615,000 Founder Shares to members of the Company’s management, board of directors and several advisors (such individuals, together with the Sponsor, are referred to herein as the “initial stockholders”). Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Founder Shares may not be sold, assigned or transferred by the initial stockholders until (x) with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of: (i) twelve months after the consummation of the Business Combination; or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Common Stock exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the consummation of the Business Combination; and (y) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, twelve months after the consummation of the Business Combination, provided that all of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred on the date following a Business Combination on which the Company consummates a transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities, or other property. The holders of Founder Shares shall have no right to any liquidating distributions with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination. The holders of the Founder Shares shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares. In the event that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised in full, the Sponsor has agreed to forfeit such number of Founder Shares (up to 300,000 Founder Shares) such that the Founder Shares then outstanding will comprise 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option (excluding the shares of Common Stock underlying the Representative’s Units) and the Private Placement Shares and the Private Placement Warrants.
1.4.2 Private Placements. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.21.2 hereof), (x) an aggregate of 1,000,000 (the “$15 Exercise Price Warrants”) at a purchase price of $0.10 per $15 Exercise Price Warrant, and (z) 315,000 units (the “Private Units”), each Private Units consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Private Placement Shares”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of Common Stock upon the consummation of the Company’s internal Business Combination (the “Private Rights”) in private placements intended to be exempt from registration under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. The private placements described in this Section 1.4.2 are referred to herein as the “Private Placements.” Except as described in the Registration Statement, none of the Private Placement Units, $15 Exercise Price Private Placement Shares, Rights or Private Rights (or shares of Common Stock underlying the $15 Exercise Price Private Placement Warrants) may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees until thirty (30) days after consummation of a Business Combination. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placements will be deposited into the Trust Account.
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1.4.3 Advisor Securities. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Company will issue to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and/or its designees an aggregate of 7,500 units (the “Advisor Units”), each Advisor Unit shall be indebted to the Firm Units and shall consist of one share of Common Stock (the “Advisor Shares”) (the “Advisor Rights”), except that the Advisor Units shall be issued in a private transaction exempt from registration under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. Except as described in the Registration Statement, none of the Advisor Rights (or shares of Common Stock underlying the Advisor Rights) may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees until thirty (30) days after consummation of a Business Combination.
1.4.4 The Private Units. The Private Placement Shares, the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Private Placement Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Private Placement Rights”. The Advisor Units, the Advisor Shares, the Advisor Rights and the shares of Common Stock exercisable upon conversion of the Advisor Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Advisor Securities”. No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Private Placement Securities and the Advisor Securities. The Public Securities, the Representative’s Securities, the Advisor Securities, the Private Placement Securities, and the Founder Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities”.
1.5 Working Capital. Upon consummation of the Offering and the Private Placements, it is intended that approximately $141,500 ($21,500 of the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) of the proceeds of such offerings will be held by the Company outside of the Trust Account and used to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
1.6 Interest Income. Prior to the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, interest earned on the Trust Account may be released to the Company from the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement to pay any taxes incurred by the Company and up to $100,000 for liquidation expenses, all as more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
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2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration Statement.
2.1.1 Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-l (File No. 333-275155, including any related preliminary prospectus (“Preliminary Prospectus”), including any prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement), for the registration of the Units under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-l to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Time of Sale,” as used in the Act, means 9:00 a.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus, which was included in the Registration Statement filed on October 24, 2023, for distribution by the Underwriters (such Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Time of Sale, the “Sale Preliminary Prospectus”). If the Company has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file, a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered for public sale under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement and, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered for public sale under the Act with the filing of such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Representative determines that at the Time of Sale, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and the Company and the Representative agrees to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then the Sale Preliminary Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.
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2.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8 -A (File Number 001-[ ]) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants. The registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof and the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
2.1.3 No Stop Orders, Etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any federal, state, or other regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, or Prospectus or any part thereof, or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
2.2 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.2.1 10b-5 Representation. At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the time any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus do and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will, in all material respects, conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. The Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading. The Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sale Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Time of Sale (or such subsequent Time of Sale pursuant to Section 2.1.1), did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of the Public Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied or will have been corrected in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.2.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Underwriters consists solely of the following: the names of the Underwriters and their respective roles and participation in the sale of the Units, the information with respect to short positions and stabilizing transactions in the [•] paragraph on page [•] and the [•] and [•] paragraphs on page [•] of the Registration Statement and the identity of counsel to the Underwriters contained in the section entitled “Legal Matters” (such information, collectively, the “Underwriters’ Information”).
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2.2.2 Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein in all material respects and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and no such agreement or instrument has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, the performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.2.3 Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
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2.2.4 Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, foreign, state, and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
2.3 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.3.1 No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company, (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) no member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) or management has resigned from any position with the Company and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Board of Directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.3.2 Recent Securities Transactions. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its share capital.
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2.4 Independent Accountants. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, Fruci & Associates, PLLC, (the “Auditor”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of, and is included in, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, the Auditor is currently registered with the PCAOB. The Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
2.5 Financial Statements; Statistical Data.
2.5.1 Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules (if any) included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein in conformity with the Regulations. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X or Form 10 that have not been included as required.
2.5.2 Statistical Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and/or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data materially agree with the sources from which they are derived.
2.6 Authorized Capital; Options. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date or on the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the adjusted share capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into shares of Common Stock, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
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2.7 Valid Issuance of Securities.
2.7.1 Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities was issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized and outstanding securities of the Company conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers and sales and any transfers of the outstanding securities of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities, exempt from such registration requirements.
2.7.2 Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The form of certificates for the Securities conform to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation and applicable securities laws. The Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be. When paid for and issued, the Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Rights are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Rights have been reserved for issuance upon the conversion of the Rights and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof such shares of Common Stock will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.
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2.7.3 Private Placement Securities and Advisor Securities.
2.7.3.1 The Private Units and Private Placement Rights, when issued, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and are, or will be, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.7.3.2 The Private Placement Shares have been duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Private Placement Rights and upon separation of the Private Units have been reserved for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Private Placement Rights and Private Units will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.
2.7.3.3 The Advisor Units and Advisor Rights, when issued, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and are, or will be, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.7.3.4 The Advisor Shares have been duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Advisor Rights and upon separation of the Advisor Units have been reserved for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Advisor Rights and Advisor Units will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders
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2.7.4 No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be or may be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the Offering.
2.8 Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.9 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.23). the Trust Agreement, the Services Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.3), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.4), the Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.21.2), and the subscription agreement for the Founder Shares (such agreements are collectively referred to as, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered, will constitute the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal, and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.10 No Conflicts, Etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a breach or violation of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which its property is subject except pursuant to the Trust Agreement (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, each as may be amended (collectively, the “Charter Documents”); or (iii) to the Company’s knowledge violate any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, assets or business constituted as of the date hereof.
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2.11 No Defaults; Violations. No default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.
2.12 Corporate Power; Licenses: Consents.
2.12.1 Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business for the purposes as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on this Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with and in furtherance of this Offering.
2.12.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection herewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization, or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale, and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by the Transaction Documents and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) and the rules and regulations promulgated by FINRA.
2.13 D&O Questionnaires. All information contained in the questionnaires (“Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors and stockholders (“Insiders”) and provided to the Representative and its counsel and the biographies of the Insiders contained in the Registration Statement, Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (to the extent a biography is contained) is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become materially inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete.
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2.14 Litigation: Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding of any material nature pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened against or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider or any stockholder or member of an Insider that has not been disclosed, that is required to be disclosed, in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Questionnaires.
2.15 Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, assets, prospects, business, operations, assets or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
2.16 No Contemplation of a Business Combination. Neither the Company nor any initial stockholder has identified any Business Combination target (each a “Target Business”) and the Company has not, nor has anyone on the Company’s behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Target Business.
2.17 Transactions Requiring Disclosure to FINRA.
2.17.1 Finder’s Fees. There are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.17.2 Payments Within 180 Days. The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement, other than the prior payments to the Representative in connection with the Offering. The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly, to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement. No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA participating in the Offering. Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a member (as defined by FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any related persons.
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2.17.3 FINRA Affiliation. Other than as disclosed to the Representative, no officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Representative and Blank Rome if it learns that any officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering.
2.17.4 Share Ownership. No officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities is an owner of shares or other securities of any member of FINRA participating in the Offering (other than securities purchased on the open market).
2.17.5 Loans. No officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA participating in the Offering.
2.17.6 Proceeds of the Offering. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation) or the Private Placement Securities, will be paid to any FINRA member participating in the Offering, or any persons associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA participating in the Offering, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.17.7 Conflicts of Interest. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” exists when a member of FINRA and/or its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity. “Members participating in the Offering” include managing agents, syndicate group members and all dealers which are members of FINRA.
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2.18 Taxes.
2.18.1 There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision of the United States, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities.
2.18.2 The Company has filed all U.S. federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof in a timely manner or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. The Company has paid all taxes shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 2.5.1 above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.
2.19 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Anti-Money Laundering; Patriot Act.
2.19.1 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of the Insiders or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business or operations of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.19.2 Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with (i) the requirements of the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control and (ii) applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar money laundering statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Federal governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened.
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2.19.3 Patriot Act. Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider has violated the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended, or Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.
2.20 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company in connection with the Offering and delivered to the Representative or to Blank Rome shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.21 Agreements With Insiders.
2.21.1 Insider Letter. The Company has caused to be duly executed a legally binding and enforceable agreement (except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification, contribution or noncompete provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought), a form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which each of the Insiders of the Company agree to certain matters. The Insider Letter shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
2.21.2 Purchase Agreement. Sponsor has executed and delivered agreements, the forms of which are included as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Sponsor will, among other things, on the Closing Date, consummate the purchase of and deliver the purchase price for the Private Placement Securities as provided for in such Purchase Agreements. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, (i) Sponsor has waived any and all rights and claims it may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Private Placement Securities, and (ii) a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Securities will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement on the Closing Date, as provided for in the Purchase Agreements.
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2.21.3 Administrative Services. The Company and the Sponsor have entered into an agreement (“Services Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial support for the Company’s use for $10,000 per month payable until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Services Agreement.
2.21.4 Registration Rights Agreement. The Company, the Sponsor, the Representative and the other initial stockholders have entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby such parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the securities they hold or may hold, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.21.5 Loans. The Sponsor has agreed to make loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of up to $150,000 (the “Insider Loans”) pursuant to a promissory note substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Insider Loans do not bear any interest and are repayable by the Company on the earlier of the consummation of the Offering or the date on which the Company determines not to conduct the Offering.
2.22 Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placements substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
2.23 Rights Agreement. The Company has entered into a rights agreement with respect to the Rights underlying the Units, the Private Placement Rights, the Advisor Rights, the Representative’s Rights and certain other warrants that may be issued by the Company with CST substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Rights Agreement”).
2.24 No Existing Non-Competition Agreements. No Insider is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his ability to be an employee, officer and/or director of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.25 Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government Securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act) or money market funds meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act.
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2.26 Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
2.27 Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.
2.28 Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and any Insider, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business), or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.
2.29 No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.
2.30 Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is, or on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules or regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.
2.31 Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the distribution of the Units, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case as supplemented and amended.
2.32 Nasdaq Global Market. The Public Securities have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on the Nasdaq Global Market, and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.
2.33 Board of Directors. As of the Effective Date, the Board of Directors of the Company will be comprised of the persons set forth as “Directors” or “Director nominees” under the heading of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” As of the Effective Date, the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board will comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Nasdaq that are, in each case, applicable to the Company. As of the Effective Date, the Company will have an Audit Committee that satisfies the applicable requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Nasdaq.
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2.34 Emerging Growth Company. From its formation through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
2.35 No Disqualification Events. Neither the Company, nor any of its predecessors or any affiliated issuer, nor any director, executive officer, or other officer of the Company participating in the Offering, nor any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, a “Company Covered Person” and, together, “Company Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(l)(i) to (viii) under the Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Company Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Underwriters a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
2.36 Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. The Company: (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and the Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1 Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations, and the Exchange Act, and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
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3.2.2 Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3 Exchange Act Registration. The Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Public Securities under the provisions of the Exchange Act (except in connection with a going-private transaction) for a period of five years from the Effective Date, or until the Company is required to be liquidated or is acquired, if earlier, or, in the case of the Warrants, until the Warrants expire and are no longer exercisable or have been exercised or redeemed in full. The Company will not deregister the Public Securities under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4 Exchange Act Filings. From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or its liquidation and dissolution, the Company shall timely file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) such statements and reports as are required to be filed by a company registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
3.2.5 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.
3.3 Free-Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees that it will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405, without the prior consent of the Representative.
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3.4 Delivery to Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge and from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Underwriters, upon their request, two manually executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all manually executed consents of certified experts.
3.5 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, and in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.6 Affiliated Transactions.
3.6.1 Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless (i) the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and (ii) a majority of the Company’s disinterested and independent directors (if there are any) approve such transaction.
3.6.2 Compensation to Insiders. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company shall not pay any of the Insiders or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination.
3.7 Financial Public Relations Firm. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a term to be agreed on by the Company and the Representative.
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3.8 Reports to the Representative. For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated or is no longer required to file reports under the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel upon their request copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Underwriters: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission, (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs that was released by the Company, (iii) a copy of each Current Report on Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company, (iv) two (2) copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act, and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section.
3.9 Transfer Agent. For a period of two years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. CST is acceptable to the Underwriters.
3.10 Payment of Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at Closing Date, all Company expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements, (ii) the preparation, printing, filing, mailing and delivery (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, including any pre or post effective amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters, (iii) fees incurred in connection with conducting background checks of the Company’s management team, up to a maximum of $10,000 in the aggregate, (iv) the preparation, printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the Common Stock and the Rights included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) filing fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA and the reasonable fees and expenses of Representative’s counsel (not to exceed $90,000) in connection with the Offering, (vi) fees, costs and expenses incurred in listing the Securities on Nasdaq or such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Underwriters together determine, (vii) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of the Units under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of “blue sky” counsel up to $5,000, (viii) the $20,000 cost associated with data and communications expenses including the use of Ipreo’s book building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering, (ix) all fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent, (x) up to $15,000 of the Representative’s actual accountable road show, market making and trading, and clearing firm expenses for the Offering; (xi) all Company’s expenses associated with “due diligence” and “road show” meetings arranged by the Representative and any presentations made available by way of a netroadshow, including without limitation trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such management; and (xii) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.10. If the Offering is consummated, the Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date the expenses it incurred on behalf of the Company (less the $30,000 previously advanced against such expenses), up to $135,000 (inclusive of the enumerated expenses specified in paragraphs (iii), (v), (viii) and (x)). If the Offering is not consummated for any reason (other than a breach by the Representative of any of its obligations hereunder), then the Company shall reimburse the Representative in full for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred through such date, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Representative, up to $100,000.
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3.11 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and Private Placements received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.12 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.13 Notice to FINRA.
3.13.1 Notice to FINRA. For a period of ninety (90) days after the date of the Prospectus, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged, in writing, to assist the Company in its search for a Target Business or to provide any other services in connection therewith, the Company will provide the following to FINRA and the Representative prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person” with respect to the Offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual. The Company also agrees that, if required by law, proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer documents or proxy statement which the Company will file with the Commission in connection with the Business Combination.
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3.13.2 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Public Securities.
3.13.3 Broker/Dealer. In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify FINRA.
3.14 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor to its knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of its employees, directors or stockholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
3.15 Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.16 Accountants. Until the earlier of the closing of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, the Company shall retain the Auditor or another independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative.
3.17 Form 8-K. The Company shall, on or prior to the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (“Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placements. Within four (4) Business Days after the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Financial Statements. Promptly after the Option Closing Date, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised after the Closing Date, the Company shall file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K or an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of such option.
3.18 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction to Blank Rome.
3.19 Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as provided for in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.
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3.20 Amendments to Charter Documents. The Company covenants and agrees, that prior to its initial Business Combination it will not seek to amend or modify its Charter Documents, except as set forth therein and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
3.21 Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press releases or engaging in any other publicity required by law, except that including the name of any Underwriter therein shall require the prior written consent of such Underwriter.
3.22 Insurance. The Company will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance (including, without limitation, insurance covering the Company, its directors and officers for liabilities or losses arising in connection with this Offering, including, without limitation, liabilities or losses arising under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Regulations and any applicable foreign securities laws).
3.23 Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriters, at the Company’s expense, promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Units for at least the period during which a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time).
3.24 Private Placement Proceeds. On the Closing Date a portion of the proceeds from the Private Placements shall be deposited into the Trust Account in accordance with the Purchase Agreements.
3.25 Future Financings. The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against the Trust Account.
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3.26 Amendments to Agreements. The Company shall not amend, modify or otherwise change the Warrant Agreement, Trust Agreement, Purchase Agreement, the Services Agreement, or any Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative which will not be unreasonably withheld.
3.27 Nasdaq. Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market or a national securities exchange acceptable to the Representative.
3.28 Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities, which are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, Private Placement Warrants, the Advisor Warrants and Representative’s Warrants outstanding from time to time.
3.29 Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Underwriters in writing, prior to the Closing Date, of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered Person.
3.30 Disqualification of S-l. Until the earlier of seven years from the date hereof or until the Warrants have either expired and are no longer exercisable or have all been exercised, the Company will not take any action or actions that prevent or disqualify the Company’s use of Form S-l (or other appropriate form) for the registration of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under the Act.
3.31 Right of First Refusal. The Company agrees that if the Firm Units are sold in accordance with the terms of this Underwriting Agreement, for a period beginning on the closing of this Offering and ending on the later of 24 months after the closing of this Offering and 12 months after the consummation of our initial Business Combination, the Company shall grant the Representative the right of first refusal to act as, (i) exclusive financial advisor in connection with all of the Company’s proposed Business Combinations for a fee of up to 3.5% of the proceeds of this Offering (subject to the Company’s right, to allocate up to 50% of such fee to another financial institution in Company’s sole discretion), and (ii) sole investment bankers, sole book-runners, sole financial advisors, sole underwriters and/or sole placement agents, at the Representative’s sole and exclusive discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings, during such period, (each, a “Subject Transaction”), of the Company or any successor to the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, on terms agreed to by both the Company and the Representative in good faith (the “Right of First Refusal”). In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6), such Right of First Refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the Registration Statement. The Company and any subsidiary or successor shall notify the Representative of its intention to pursue a Subject Transaction, including the material terms thereof, by providing written notice thereof by registered mail or overnight courier service addressed to the Representative. If the Representative fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to a Subject Transaction within ten (10) Business Days after the mailing of such written notice shall have no further claim or right with respect to such Subject Transaction. The Representative may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, not to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to any Subject Transaction; provided that any such election by the Representative shall not adversely affect the Representative’s Right of First Refusal with respect to any other Subject Transaction. The Company and the Representative shall make commercially reasonable efforts to agree on the terms of the Subject Transaction (including Representative’s compensation thereunder) in good faith within 10 business days after the acceptance of the Right of First Refusal by the Representative.
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4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1 Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 9:00 a.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative.
4.1.2 FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Underwriters shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.3 No Commission Stop Order. At the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
4.1.4 Nasdaq. The Securities shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, satisfactory evidence of which shall have been provided to the Representative.
4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1 Closing Date and Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions and negative assurance statements of Loeb & Loeb LLP, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative, as representative for the several Underwriters, and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and Blank Rome.
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4.2.2 Closing Date and Option Closing Date, Opinions of Nevada Counsel. On the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions and negative assurance statements of Holland & Hart LLP, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative, as representative for the several Underwriters, and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and Blank Rome.
4.2.3 Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Representative’s counsel. The opinions of counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that they may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.
4.3 Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Representative from the Auditor dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and Option Closing Date.
4.4 Officers’ Certificates.
4.4.1 Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company (in their capacities as such), dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company (in their capacities as such) as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.4.2 Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying (i) that the Charter Documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect, (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified, (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission, (iv) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the NYSE and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
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4.5 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal, foreign or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened by the Commission, and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.6 Delivery of Agreements. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Transaction Documents and all of the Insider Letters.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
5.1 Indemnification.
5.1.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and their respective partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter or any affiliate within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, Sale Preliminary Prospectus, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
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(b) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 5.1(d)) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed, conditioned or withheld; and
(c) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission (whether or not a party), to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information (as defined below).
5.1.2 Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its directors, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 5.1.1, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), in reliance upon and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information.
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5.1.3 Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 5.1 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 5.1, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 5.1 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 5.1 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of, the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any other legal expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (A) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (B) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (C) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (D) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action or counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in each case, within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action; in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction (plus local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 5 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an express and unconditional release of each indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
5.1.4 Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 5.1.1(b) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
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5.2 Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of Section 5.1 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable or insufficient from the Company or the Underwriters, the Company and the Underwriters will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) to which any indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Underwriters (before deducting expenses) from the sale of Units on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 5.2 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 5.2 shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 5.2, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 5.1.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 5.1 and this Section 5.2, the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions actually received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 5.2, any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, any affiliates of the respective Underwriters and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of the Underwriters or their respective affiliates, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each director of the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 5.2, will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 5.2 except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 5.1.3, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 5.1.3.
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6. Default by an Underwriter.
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units, the Representative may, in their discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10.5, and 93 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
6.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such securities.
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7. Additional Covenants.
7.1 Additional Shares or Options. The Company hereby agrees that until the consummation of a Business Combination, it shall not issue any shares of Common Stock or any options or other securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, or any preferred shares or other securities of the Company which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.
7.2 Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that it will use its reasonable best efforts prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any prospective Target Business or obtaining the services of any vendor to have such Target Business and/or vendor acknowledge in writing whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $80,000,000 (without giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option) for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem shares of Common Stock contained in the Public Securities in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter Documents, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (i) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (ii) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company shall have received the approval of its Chief Executive Officer and the approving vote of at least a majority of its Board of Directors.
7.3 Insider Letters. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
7.4 Rule 419. The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including but not limited to using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-l under the Exchange Act during such period.
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7.5 Tender Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and Other Information. The Company shall provide to the Representative or its counsel (if so instructed by the Representative) with 10 copies of all tender offer documents or proxy information and all related material filed with the Commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the Commission. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been provided to the Representative pursuant to this Section. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state in which its initial public offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such state.
7.6 Emerging Growth Company. The Company shall promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Act.
7.7 Target Net Assets. The Company agrees that the Target Business that it acquires must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business (excluding taxes payable). The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the target business meets such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. The Company is not required to obtain an opinion as to the fair market value if the Company’s Board of Directors independently determines that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value.
8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and the Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh (7th) anniversary of the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
9. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.
9.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.
9.2 Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the NYSE, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market or quoted on the over the counter market shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in existing major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or Federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s sole opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s sole judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Securities.
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9.3 Expenses. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 6 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter; but, if for any other reason, any Units are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein or the Underwriters decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, (i) the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket accountable expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.10 hereof, and (ii) the Company shall reimburse the Representative for any reasonable and accountable costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing any provisions of this Agreement.
9.4 Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier or delivered by electronic mail or facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered or faxed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
ThinkEquity LLC
17 State Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attention: Head of Investment Banking
E-mail: notices@think-equity.com
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Blank Rome LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Attention: Brad L. Shiffman, Esq.
Facsimile: (917) 332-3725
E-mail: Bshiffman@blankrome.com
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If to the Company:
FG Merger II Corp.
105 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A
Itasca, Illinois 60143
Attn: Hassan Baqar
Facsimile: N/A
Email: hbaqar@sequoiafinancial.com
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum
Facsimile: (212) 407-4990
Email: mnussbaum@loeb.com
10.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
10.3 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
10.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
10.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company, directors, agents, partners, members, employees and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from the Underwriters.
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10.6 Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that the Company may be entitled in any jurisdiction in which judicial proceedings may at any time be commenced hereunder, to claim for itself or its revenues or assets any immunity, including sovereign immunity, from suit, jurisdiction, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment or prior to a judgment, execution of a judgment or any other legal process with respect to its obligations hereunder and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to the Company such an immunity (whether or not claimed), the Company hereby irrevocably agrees not to claim and irrevocably waives such immunity to the maximum extent permitted by law.
10.7 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the Representative irrevocably submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or the offering of the Securities. Each of the Company and the Representative irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Representative may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 10.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company or the Representative in any action, proceeding or claim. Each of the Company and the Representative waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on this Agreement may be instituted by the Underwriters in any competent court. The Company agrees that the Underwriters shall be entitled to recover all of their reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to any action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor if any of them are the prevailing party in such action or proceeding.
10.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
10.9 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
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10.10 Waiver. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, noncompliance or non-fulfillment.
10.11 No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction pursuant to a contractual relationship between the Company and the Underwriters, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or are currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of this offering of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof and (v) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgment with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG MERGER II CORP. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Accepted on the date
first above written.
| THINKEQUITY LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
, as Representative
of the several underwriters
[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
FG MERGER II CORP.
8,000,000 Units
| Underwriter | Number of Firm Units to be Purchased | |||
| ThinkEquity LLC | 8,000,000 | |||
| TOTAL | 8,000,000 | |||
SCHEDULE B
Exhibit 4.1
| NUMBER | UNITS |
U-
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP ¨
FG MERGER II CORP.
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF COMMON STOCK AND ONE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ONE-TWENTIETH (1/20) OF A SHARE OF COMMON STOCK UPON THE CONSUMMATION OF AN INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION
THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of Units.
Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), of FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) (the “Right”). The Common Stock and Rights comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to [_], 2024, unless ThinkEquity LLC, elects to allow separate trading earlier, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. The terms of the Rights are governed by a Rights Agreement, dated as of [_], 2024, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the office of the Rights Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Rights holder on written request and without cost.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar of the Company.
This certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
Witness the facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Company.
| Authorized Signatory | Transfer Agent and Registrar |
FG Merger II Corp.
The Company will furnish without charge to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of equity or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | - | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | - | Custodian | ||
| TEN ENT | - | as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) | (Minor) | |||
| JT TEN | - | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | ||||
| (State) | |||||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
Units represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
Attorney to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated | ||
| Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. | ||
| Signature(s) Guaranteed: | ||
| THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)). |
As more fully described in, and subject to the terms and conditions described in, the Company’s final prospectus for its initial public offering dated , 2024, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of Common Stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination by the date set forth (the “Last Date”) in the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Charter”), (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Common Stock sold in its initial public offering properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Common Stock if it does not consummate an initial business combination by the Last Date or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective shares of Common Stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
2
Exhibit 4.2
|
NUMBER C- |
SHARES | |
| SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS | ||
| CUSIP [_] |
FG MERGER II CORP.
COMMON STOCK
THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar of the Company.
Witness the facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Company.
| Authorized Signatory | Transfer Agent |
FG MERGER II CORP.
The Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of equity or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of securities (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | - | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT | - | Custodian | ||
| TEN ENT | - | as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) | (Minor) | |||
| JT TEN | - |
as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State) | ||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING
NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S))
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))
shares of Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
Attorney to transfer the said shares of Common Stock on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated: | ||
| Notice: The signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. | ||
| Signature(s) Guaranteed: | ||
| THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE). |
As more fully described in, and subject to the terms and conditions described in, the Company’s final prospectus for its initial public offering dated , 2024, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of Common Stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination by the date set forth (the “Last Date”) in the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Charter”), (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Common Stock sold in its initial public offering properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Common Stock if it does not consummate an initial business combination by the Last Date or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective shares of Common Stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
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Exhibit 4.3
SPECIMEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
|
NUMBER [_]R |
RIGHTS |
FG MERGER II CORP.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEVADA
RIGHTS
|
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS |
CUSIP [_] |
THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received
is the registered holder(s) of a right or rights (each, a “Right”) to automatically receive one-twentieth (1/20) of one share of common stock, $0.0001 par value (“Common Stock”), of FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) for each Right evidenced by this Rights Certificate on the Company’s completion of an initial business combination (as defined in the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering (“Prospectus”)) upon surrender of this Rights Certificate pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of [●], 2024 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Right.
Upon liquidation of the Company in the event an initial business combination is not consummated during the required period as identified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Rights shall expire and be worthless. The holder of a Right shall have no right or interest of any kind in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).
Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Rights Certificate at the office or agency of the Rights Agent, a new Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Rights shall be issued to the transferee in exchange for this Rights Certificate, without charge except for any applicable tax or other governmental charge.
The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. The Company reserves the right to deal with any fractional entitlement at the relevant time in any manner (as provided in the Rights Agreement).
The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the registered holder(s) as the absolute owner(s) of this Rights Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any conversion hereof, of any distribution to the registered holder(s), and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Right Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
This Right does not entitle the registered holder(s) to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Rights Agent, as such term is used in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | SECRETARY | |
| Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent |
FG Merger II Corp.
The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the rights represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of shares of Common Stock (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | — | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT |
— | Custodian | |||
| (Cust) | (Minor) | |||||||
| TEN ENT | — | as tenants by the entireties | ||||||
| JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | |||||
| (State) | ||||||||
Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
| PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE |
|
| (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) |
rights represented by the within Certificate, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
____________________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer said rights on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated | ||||
| Notice: | The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
| THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). | |
The holder of this certificate shall have no right or interest of any kind in or to the funds held in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).
Exhibit 4.4
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of [●], 2024 between FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company has received a firm commitment from ThinkEquity LLC (the “Representative”), as representative of the several underwriters, to purchase up to an aggregate of 9,200,000 units, each unit (“Unit”) comprised of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $.0001 (the “Common Stock”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of one share of Common Stock (a “Public Right”) upon the happening of the triggering event described herein, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 9,200,000 Public Rights upon consummation of such public offering, 1,200,000 of which are attributable to the over-allotment option (the “Public Offering”);
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 190,000 rights (the “Private Rights”) underlying private units to be sold in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering (the “Closing”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver up to 40,000 rights (the “Underwriter Rights”) underlying underwriter units to be issued to the Representative or its designees at Closing;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver up to 7,500 rights underlying advisor units to be issued to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. or its designees at Closing (the “Advisor Rights”);
WHEREAS, the Company may issue additional Rights, which will be identical to the Private Rights, in consideration of certain working capital loans that may be made by the Company’s sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates (together with the Public Rights, the Private Rights, the Underwriter Rights, the Advisor Rights and along with such other rights as the Company issues from time to time hereunder, the “Rights”);
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-275155 (the “Registration Statement”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) of, among other securities, the Rights and the shares of Common Stock issuable to the holders of the Rights;
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Rights Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer and exchange of the Rights;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Rights, the terms upon which they shall be issued, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Rights Agent, and the holders of the Rights; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed that are necessary to make the Rights, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Rights Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Rights, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Rights.
2.1. Form of Right. Each Right shall be issued in registered or book entry form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein, and shall be signed by, or bear the electronic signature of, the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear the Company’s seal, if any. In the event the person whose electronic signature has been placed upon any Right shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Right before such Right is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
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2.2. Effect of Countersignature. Except with respect to uncertificated Rights as described above, unless and until countersigned by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a registered Right shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exchanged for shares of Common Stock.
2.3. Registration.
2.3.1. Right Register. The Rights Agent shall maintain books (the “Right Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Rights. Upon the initial issuance of the Rights, the Rights Agent shall issue and register the Rights in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Rights Agent by the Company.
2.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Right, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person or entity in whose name such Right shall be registered upon the Right Register (the “registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such Right and of each Right represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Right certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent), for the purpose of the exchange thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.4. Detachability of Rights. The securities comprising the Units, including the Rights, will not be separately transferable until the fifty-second (52nd) day after the date hereof unless the Representative informs the Company and the Rights Agent of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Units begin until (i) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date hereof, and (ii) the Company issues a press release announcing when such separate trading shall begin.
3. Terms and Exchange of Rights.
3.1. Rights. Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of one share of Common Stock upon the happening of the Exchange Event (as defined below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its shares of Common Stock upon the Exchange Event as the purchase price for such shares of Common Stock has been included in the purchase price for the Units. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights or issue fractional shares of Common Stock. The provisions of this Section 3.1 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2. Exchange Event. The “Exchange Event” shall be the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).
3.3. Exchange of Rights.
3.3.1. Issuance of Shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of the Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the Rights to return their Rights Certificates to the Rights Agent. If the Company is not the surviving entity in a Business Combination, the holder of Rights must affirmatively elect to such conversion. Upon receipt of a valid Rights Certificate, the Rights Agent shall issue to the registered holder of such Right(s) the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. At the time of the Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Rights Agent to round down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock or otherwise inform it how fractional shares will be addressed in accordance with Delaware law.
3.3.2. Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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3.3.3. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate or book-entry position for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate or book-entry position.
3.3.4. Company Not Surviving Following Exchange Event. If the Exchange Event results in the Company not continuing as the surviving company, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration as the holders of the Common Stock will receive in connection with the Exchange Event, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 3.1 above, and each holder of a Right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its Rights in order to receive the one-twentieth (1/20) of one share underlying each Right (without paying any additional consideration) upon consummation of the Exchange Event.
3.4. Duration of Rights. If an Exchange Event does not occur within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless; provided that, for as long as any of the Underwriter Rights are held by the Representative, or its designees or affiliates, such Rights may not be converted after five years, from the commencement of sales under the Registration Statement.
4. Transfer and Exchange of Rights.
4.1. Registration of Transfer. The Rights Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Right upon the Right Register, upon surrender of such Right for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Right representing an equal aggregate number of Rights shall be issued and the old Right shall be cancelled by the Rights Agent.
4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Rights. Rights may be surrendered to the Rights Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Rights Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Rights as requested by the registered holder of the Rights so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend and the new Rights to be issued will not bear a restrictive legend, the Rights Agent shall not cancel such Right and issue new Rights in exchange therefor until the Rights Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating no restrictive legend is required.
4.3. Fractional Rights. The Rights Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Right certificate for a fraction of a Right.
4.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights.
4.5. Right Execution and Countersignature. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Rights required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, and the Company, whenever required by the Rights Agent, will supply the Rights Agent with Rights duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
4.6. Adjustments to Conversion Ratios. The number of shares of Common Stock that the holders of Rights are entitled to receive as a result of the occurrence of an Exchange Event shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to the shares of Common Stock occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Exchange Event.
5. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Rights.
5.1. No Rights as Shareholder. Until the exchange of a Right for shares of Common Stock as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.
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5.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Rights. If any Right is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Rights Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Right, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Right of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Right shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Right shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
5.3. Reservation of Shares of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exchange of all outstanding Rights issued pursuant to this Agreement.
6. Concerning the Rights Agent and Other Matters.
6.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Rights Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Rights, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Rights or such shares.
6.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Rights Agent.
6.2.1. Appointment of Successor Rights Agent. The Rights Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Rights Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Rights Agent in place of the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Rights Agent or by the holder of the Right (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Right for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Right may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Rights Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Rights Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Rights Agent with like effect as if originally named as Rights Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Rights Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Rights Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Rights Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Rights Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Rights Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
6.2.2. Notice of Successor Rights Agent. In the event a successor Rights Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Rights Agent and the transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
6.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Rights Agent. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Rights Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
6.3. Fees and Expenses of Rights Agent.
6.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Rights Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Rights Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Rights Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Rights Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
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6.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
6.4. Liability of Rights Agent.
6.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
6.4.2. Indemnity. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Subject to Section 6.6 below, the Company agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Rights Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith (as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).
6.4.3. Exclusions. The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Right (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable. In no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.
6.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Rights Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
6.6. Waiver. The Rights Agent hereby waives any right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Rights Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
7. Miscellaneous Provisions.
7.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
7.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Rights Agent), as follows:
FG Merger II Corp.
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A
Itasca, Illinois 60143
Attn: Hassan R. Baqar
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Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Right or by the Company to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
[_]
Attn: [_]
and
Loeb & Loeb LLP
35 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attn: Giovanni Caruso, Esq.
and
ThinkEquity LLC
[_]
Attn: [_]
and
Blank Rome LLP
[_]
Attn[_]
7.3. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. Subject to applicable law, the Company and the Rights Agent hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against either of them arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Rights Agent hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum or any compliant asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act against the Company or any of the Company’s directors, officers, other employees or agents.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Rights shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 7.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any Rights holder, such Rights holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such Rights holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such Rights holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such Rights holder.
7.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Rights and, for the purposes of Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, the Representative, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. The Representative shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and the Representative with respect to Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights.
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7.5. Examination of Rights Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Rights Agent in the County of New York, State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Right. The Rights Agent may require any such holder to submit his, her or its Right for inspection by it.
7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
7.7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
7.8. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered holders in any material respect. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Rights. The provisions of this Section 7.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representative. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment complies with this Section 7.8, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
7.9. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.
| FG MERGER II CORP. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Hassan R. Baqar | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
Signature Page to Rights Agreement
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Rights Certificate
9
Exhibit 10.1
[_], 2024
FG Merger II Corp.
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A
Itasca, Illinois 60143
Re: Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and ThinkEquity LLC, as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (each, an “Underwriter” and collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 9,200,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 1,200,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (each, a “Right”). The Units will be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Units have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of FG Merger Investors II LLC (the “Sponsor”) and the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of, or special advisor to, the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each of the undersigned individuals, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agree with the Company as follows:
| 1. | The Sponsor and each Insider agree that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Common Stock (as defined below) owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in connection with such stockholder approval. If the Company seeks to consummate a proposed Business Combination by engaging in a tender offer, the Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she will not sell or tender any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in connection therewith. |
| 2. | The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agree that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Charter”), the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (as defined below), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Nevada law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agree to not propose any amendment to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the required time period set forth in the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. |
The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledge that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with (A) the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination, or (B) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase Offering Shares (although the Sponsor, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter).
| 3. | During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Common Stock (including, but not limited to, Founder Shares), Rights or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Common Stock (including, but not limited to, Founder Shares), Rights or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). Each of the Insiders and the Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 3 or paragraph 7 below, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer. |
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| 4. | In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account upon the failure of the Company to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, the Sponsor (the “Indemnitor”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) any prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Indemnitor (x) shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Offering Share and (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party or a Target which executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Indemnitor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Indemnitor, the Indemnitor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense. |
| 5. | To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit, on a pro-rata basis and at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to 300,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 1,200,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,200,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including shares of Common Stock underlying the Rights, $15 Exercise Price Warrants, Private Units (as defined below), Underwriter Units (as defined below), or EarlyBird Units (as defined below)). The Sponsor further agrees that to the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will purchase or sell Units or effect a share repurchase or share capitalization, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of the initial stockholders prior to the Public Offering at 20.0% of its issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock upon the consummation of the Public Offering (not including shares of Common Stock underlying the Rights, $15 Exercise Price Warrants, Private Units, Underwriter Units or EarlyBird Units). In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 1,200,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15% of the number of shares of Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 300,000 in the formula set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor would have to surrender to the Company in order for the initial stockholders to hold an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock after the Public Offering (not including shares of Common Stock underlying the Rights, $15 Exercise Price Warrants, Private Units, Underwriter Units or EarlyBird Units). |
| 6. | The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agree and acknowledge that: (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by the Sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7(a), 7(b) and 9, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach. |
| 7. | (a) The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof) until, (i) with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) the date on which the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, one year after the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination, or earlier, in each case, if, subsequent to the initial Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”). |
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(b) The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer (i) any Private Units (or any securities underlying the Private Units, including the shares of Common Stock and Private Rights (as defined below) included in the Private Units and the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Private Rights) or (ii) any $15 Exercise Price Warrants (or any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants), until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, $15 Exercise Price Warrants, Private Units, component securities of Private Units and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the Private Rights, or the Founder Shares that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(c)), are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the Sponsor or to any member of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the State of Nevada, the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination; or (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Company’s completion of an initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein and the other restrictions contained in this Agreement (including provisions relating to voting, the Trust Account and liquidating distributions).
| 8. | The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background. The Sponsor and each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that: it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding. |
| 9. | Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any officer, nor any affiliate of the Sponsor, or any officer, nor any director of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, non-cash payments, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the following, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan and advances up to an aggregate of $150,000 made to the Company by the Sponsor; payments to the Sponsor for certain office space, secretarial and administrative services as may be reasonably required by the Company of $15,000 per month; reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating, negotiating and completing an initial Business Combination, and repayment of loans, if any, and on such terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, provided, that, if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the Private Units (as defined below), including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. |
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| 10. | The Sponsor and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or director of the Company. |
| 11. | As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”); (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 2,300,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding (up to 300,000 Shares of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the Underwriters) held by the Initial Stockholders; (iv) “Initial Stockholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any Insider that holds Founder Shares; (v) “$15 Exercise Price Warrants” shall mean the 1,000,000 warrants to be purchased by our sponsor (and/or its designees) at $0.10 per warrant; (vi) “Public Stockholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants shall be deposited; (viii) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b); (ix) “Underwriter Units” shall mean the units issued to the Underwriters in a private placement to be completed concurrently with the consummation of the Public Offering; and (x) “EarlyBird Units” shall mean the units issued to EarlyBird Capital, Inc. in a private placement to be completed concurrently with the consummation of the Public Offering. |
| 12. | The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and each Director shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any of the Company’s directors or officers. |
| 13. | This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto. |
| 14. | No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees. |
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| 15. | Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees. |
| 16. | This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. |
| 17. | This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable. |
| 18. | This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. |
| 19. | Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile transmission. |
| 20. | This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated by [_], 2024; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation. |
[Signature Page Follows]
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| Sincerely, | |
| FG MERGER INVESTORS II LLC |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
| By: | ||
| Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
| Hassan R. Baqar | ||
| D. Kyle Cerminara | ||
| Andrew B. McIntyre | ||
| Scott D. Wollney | ||
| Richard E. Govignon |
Acknowledged and Agreed:
FG MERGER II CORP.
| By: | |||
| Name: | Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [_], 2024 by and between FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-275155 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with ThinkEquity LLC, as a representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $80,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units and $15 Exercise Price Warrants (each as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $92,000,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Stockholders,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more), maintained by the Trustee and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property solely in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;
(d) Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representative of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by any of its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Executive Vice President, Vice President, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer of the Company, and, in the case of Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is, the later of (1) 24 months from the closing of the Offering and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of funds withdrawn for working capital purposes (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually) and taxes payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date;
(j) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority, so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
(k) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public Stockholders properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering (the “public shares”) if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
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(l) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit E, withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover the Company’s working capital requirements (in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 annually), which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to make such distribution, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution, so long as such distribution shall not result in a reduction in the principal amount initially deposited in the Trust Account (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and
(m) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j) or (k) above.
2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Executive Vice President, Vice President or Secretary. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(j) hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The Trustee shall refund to the Company the annual administration fee (on a pro rata basis) with respect to any period after the liquidation of the Trust Account. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c), Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such stockholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same; and
(f) Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement.
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3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;
(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;
(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;
(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;
(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(i) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or
(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) hereof.
4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.
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5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or
(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Subject to Section 6(d) hereof, this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) This Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof with the Consent of the Stockholders. For purposes of this Section 6(d), the “Consent of the Stockholders” means receipt by the Trustee of a certificate from the inspector of elections of the stockholder meeting certifying that the Company’s stockholders of record as of a record date established in accordance with the Nevada Revised Statutes, as amended (or any successor rule), who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock have voted in favor of such change, amendment or modification. No such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his election to redeem his shares of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote sought to amend this Agreement to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Common Stock if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee may rely conclusively on the certification from the inspector or elections referenced above and shall be relieved of all liability to any party for executing the proposed amendment in reliance thereon.
(e) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
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(f) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by electronic mail:
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com
Email: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com
if to the Company, to:
FG Merger II Corp.
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A
Itasca, Illinois 60143
Attn: Hassan R. Baqar
Email: emily@fgfinancial.com
in each case, with copies to:
Blank Rome LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Attn: Brad L. Shiffman
Email: bshiffman@BlankRome.com
And
ThinkEquity LLC
17 State Street, 41st Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Head of Investment Banking
Email: notices@thinkequity.com
And
Loeb &
Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attn.: Mitchell S. Nussbaum
Giovanni Caruso
Email: mnussbaum@loeb.com
gcaruso@loeb.com
(g) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.
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(h) This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(i) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(j) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters is a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(k) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
| CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Francis Wolf | ||
| Title: | Vice President | ||
| FG MERGER II CORP. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Hassan R. Baqar | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
| Fee Item | Time and method of payment | Amount | |||||
| Initial set-up fee. | Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer. | $ | |||||
| Trustee administration fee | Payable annually. First year fee payable, at initial closing of Offering by wire transfer, thereafter by wire transfer or check. | $ | |||||
| Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1 and 2 | Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 1 and 2 | $ | |||||
| Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k) | Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k) | Prevailing rates | |||||
EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: [Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez]
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Dear [Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez]:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of __________, 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with ___________ (the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account, and to transfer the proceeds to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”), and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Co-Executive Chairman or Vice Chairman, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) a written instruction signed by the Company with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of amounts owed to public stockholders who have properly exercised their redemption rights (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such notice as soon thereafter as possible.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG Merger II Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Agreed and acknowledged by: | ||
| ThinkEquity LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account -Termination Letter
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of _________, 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination with a Target Business (the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Operating Account and to transfer the total proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected __________1 as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG Merger II Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
cc: ThinkEquity LLC
1 24 months from the closing of the Offering or such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation.
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of ________, 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $_______ of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG Merger II Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
cc: ThinkEquity LLC
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account -Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of _____, 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders of the Company $____ of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of public shares of Common Stock if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG Merger II Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
cc: ThinkEquity LLC
EXHIBIT E
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
| Re: | Trust Account No. Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(l) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[_] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds for its working capital purposes. The Company hereby confirms that, during the current annual period and, after giving effect to this request, the Company has only requested withdrawals from the Trust Account for working capital purposes in an aggregate amount of $ [____]. Accordingly, the Company confirms that your fulfillment of this request will not result in a withdrawal from the Trust Account for the Company’s working capital purposes of more than $1,000,000 annually. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG Merger II Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| cc: | ThinkEquity LLC |
Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [__], 2024, is made and entered into by and among FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), FG Merger Investors II LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), ThinkEquity LLC, as a representative of the underwriters (the “Underwriters”) and the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under “Holders” (each such party, together with the Sponsor, the Underwriters and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company has 2,300,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issued and outstanding, up to 300,000 of which will be forfeited to the Company for no consideration depending on the extent to which the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering”) exercise their over-allotment option (such Common Stock, the “Founder Shares”);
WHEREAS, on [_], 2024, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain $15 Exercise Price Warrants Purchase Agreement (the “$15 Exercise Price Warrants Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 1,000,000 private placement warrants at $0.10 per warrant (the “$15 Exercise Price Warrants “) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Offering;
WHEREAS, on [_], 2024, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement (the “Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 190,000 units (the “Private Units”), each Private Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Private Shares”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Private Rights”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Offering;
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain underwriting agreement with the Underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue to the Underwriter 40,000 units (or up to 46,000 units depending on the extent to which the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option) (the “Underwriter Units”), each Underwriter Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Underwriter Shares”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Underwriter Rights”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the Offering;
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain financial advisory services engagement letter with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“EarlyBird”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue to EarlyBird 7,500 units (the “EarlyBird Units”), each EarlyBird Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “EarlyBird Shares”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “EarlyBird Rights”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the Offering;
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with its search for and consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units of the Company (“Working Capital Units” and together with the Private Units, the “Units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender, each Working Capital Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock (the “Working Capital Shares”) and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (the “Working Capital Rights”);
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Combination” shall mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“EarlyBird” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“EarlyBird Rights” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“EarlyBird Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“EarlyBird Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.
“Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof.
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“Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on (A) with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of (i) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-day trading period commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, one year after the date of the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of [_], 2024, by and among the Company, the Sponsor, and each of the Company’s senior advisor to the board of directors, officers, directors and director nominees.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Offering” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Private Placement Lock-up Period, Underwriter Lock-up Period, or any other lock-up period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter, the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants Purchase Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement, this Agreement and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Units and $15 Exercise Price Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such $15 Exercise Price Warrants and Private Units or their Permitted Transferees, the Private Units, the securities underlying such Private Units, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, and that are held by the initial purchasers of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Rights” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
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“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of the Founder Shares, (b) the $15 Exercise Price Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants), (c) the Underwriter Units (including the Underwriter Shares and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of the Underwriter Rights), (d) the Private Units (including the Private Shares and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Private Rights), (e) the EarlyBird Units (including the EarlyBird Shares and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the EarlyBird Rights), (f) the Working Capital Units (including the Working Capital Shares and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Working Capital Rights), (g) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, and (h) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
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“Underwriters” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Underwriter Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Underwriter Units and the securities underlying such Underwriter Units that are held by the Underwriters or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Underwriting Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter Rights” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Working Capital Rights” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Working Capital Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“$15 Exercise Price Warrants Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“$15 Exercise Price Warrants “ shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, the Holders of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
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2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested) exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.
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2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of the shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that such Holder has requested be included in such Registration), which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
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2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Registrations on Form S-3. The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering. Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $[10,000,000].
2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.
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ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent, warrant agent or rights agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
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3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities and its counsel, including, without limitation, providing copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided further, the Company may not include the name of any Holder or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder or Underwriter and providing each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company shall include unless contrary to applicable law;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration which the participating Holders may rely on, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $[25,000,000], use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
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3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4 and, upon the expiration of any such period, the Holders shall be entitled to resume the use of any such Prospectus in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
3.6 Limitation on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Underwriters may not exercise their rights under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement relating to the Company’s initial public offering and (ii) the Underwriters may not exercise their rights under Section 2.1 more than one time.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
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4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
5.2.2 The rights granted to a Holder by the Company under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder only to a transferee of Registrable Securities that is a transferee or assignee of not less than 10,000 Registrable Securities (as presently constituted and subject to subsequent adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, reverse stock splits and the like); provided, that (x) such transfer or assignment of Registrable Securities is effected in accordance with applicable securities laws, (y) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred and (z) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Private Placement Lock-up Period, Underwriter Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.
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5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5.5 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.6 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.7 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the fifteenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act with no volume or other restrictions or limitations. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | |||
| FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| HOLDERS: | |
| Larry G. Swets, Jr. | |
| Hassan R. Baqar | |
| D. Kyle Cerminara | |
| Andrew B. McIntyre | |
| Scott D. Wollney | |
| Richard E. Govignon |
| FG MERGER INVESTORS II LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| THINKEQUITY LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.4
$15 EXERCISE PRICE WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS $15 EXERCISE PRICE WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of [_], 2024 (as it may from time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and FG Merger Investors II LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “Share”), and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (each, a “Public Right”). The Purchaser agreed to purchase 1,000,000 warrants at a purchase price of $0.10 per warrant (the “$15 Exercise Price Warrants”), each $15 Exercise Price Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $15.00 per Share.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants.
A. Authorization of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants to the Purchaser.
B. Purchase and Sale of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants.
On the date of the consummation of the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (the “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, an aggregate of 1,000,000 $15 Exercise Price Warrants at a price of $0.10 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000 (the “Purchase Price”) per Purchaser, which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions at least one business day prior to the date of effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-275155) filed in connection with the Public Offering. On the Closing Date, the Company shall either, at its option, deliver to the Purchaser on such date certificates evidencing the $15 Exercise Price Warrants purchased by the Purchaser and duly registered in each Purchaser’s name, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
C. Terms of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants.
(i) The $15 Exercise Price Warrants shall have their terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering (a “Warrant Agreement”).
(ii) At or prior to the time of the Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the Shares underlying the $15 Exercise Price Warrants.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that:
A. Organization and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.
B. Authorization; No Breach.
(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants have been duly authorized and approved by the Company as of the Closing Date. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon each issuance of $15 Exercise Price Warrants in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the issuance and sale of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of the Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption, action, notice, declaration or filing, in each case, by or to any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will be duly and validly issued and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. On the date of issuance of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such $15 Exercise Price Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.
D. Governmental Consents. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the $15 Exercise Price Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that:
A. Organization and Requisite Authority. Each Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
B. Authorization; No Breach.
(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
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(ii) The execution and delivery by each Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by such Purchaser does not and shall not as of the Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by such Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which such Purchaser is subject that would materially impact its ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
C. Investment Representations.
(i) Each Purchaser is acquiring the $15 Exercise Price Warrants and, upon exercise of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.
(ii) Each Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rules 501(a)(3) of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and such Purchaser has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(iii) Each Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire such Securities.
(iv) Each Purchaser did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.
(v) Each Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by such Purchaser. Each Purchaser been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. Each Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.
(vi) Each Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(vii) Each Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. While each Purchaser understands that Rule 144 under the Securities Act is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company, such Purchaser understands that Rule 144 includes an exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met: (i) the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; (ii) the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); (iii) the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and (iv) at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
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(viii) Each Purchaser has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, understands the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. Each Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. Each Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Securities.
Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the $15 Exercise Price Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.
B. Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.
C. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.
D. Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, each on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.
E. Corporate Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants hereunder.
Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations. The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.
B. Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.
C. Corporate Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the $15 Exercise Price Warrants hereunder.
D. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.
E. Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement on terms satisfactory to the Company.
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Section 6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after [_], 2024 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.
Section 7. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Date.
Section 8. Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the registration statement on Form S-1 the Company plans to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
A. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, other than assignments by the Purchaser to its affiliates (including, without limitation, one or more of their members or partners).
B. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
C. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
D. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
E. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its conflict of laws rules.
F. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
| COMPANY: | ||||
| FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation | ||||
| By: | ||||
| Name: | Larry G. Swets, Jr. | |||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
| PURCHASER: | ||||
| FG MERGER INVESTORS II LLC, a Nevada limited liability company | ||||
| By: | ||||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
| By: | ||||
[Signature Page to $15 Exercise Price Warrants Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit 10.5
PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNITS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNITS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the [●] day of [_], 2024, by and between FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143, and FG Merger Investors II LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Subscriber”), having its principal place of business at 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, Illinois 60143.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell to the Subscriber on a private placement basis (the “Placement”) an aggregate of 190,000 units (the “Units”) of the Company, each Unit comprised of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”) and one right to receive one-twenteth (1/20) of a share of Common Stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination (“Right”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. The shares of Common Stock underlying the Rights are hereinafter referred to as the “Rights Shares.” The shares of Common Stock underlying the Units (excluding the Rights Shares) are hereinafter referred to as the “Placement Shares.” The Rights underlying the Units are hereinafter referred to as the “Placement Rights.” The Units, Placement Shares, Placement Rights and Rights Shares, collectively, are hereinafter referred to as the “Securities.” Each Placement Right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of a share of Common Stock upon consummation of our initial business combination (the “Business Combination”); and
WHEREAS, the Subscriber wishes to purchase 190,000 Units, and the Company wishes to accept such subscription from the Subscriber.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Subscriber hereby agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Subscribe
1.1. Purchase and Issuance of the Units. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Subscriber, on the Closing Date (as defined below) the Units in consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price (as defined below). On the Closing Date, the Company shall, at its option, deliver to the Subscriber the certificates representing the Securities purchased or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
1.2. Purchase Price. As payment in full for the Units being purchased under this Agreement, the Subscriber shall pay $1,900,000 (the “Purchase Price”) by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the trust account (the “Trust Account”) at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee (“Continental”) one (1) business day prior to the date of effectiveness of the registration statement in connection with the IPO, as amended as of such date (the “Registration Statement”).
1.3. Closing. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Units (the “Closing Date”) shall take place simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the “IPO”). The closing of the purchase and sale of the Units shall take place at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, or such other place as may be agreed upon by the parties hereto.
1.4. Termination. This Agreement and each of the obligations of the undersigned shall be null and void and without effect if a Closing does not occur prior to [_], 2024.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Subscriber
The Subscriber represents and warrants that:
2.1. No Government Recommendation or Approval. The Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company or the Placement of the Securities.
2.2. Accredited Investor. The Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance, among other things, on a private placement exemption to “accredited investors” under the Securities Act and similar exemptions under state law.
2.3. Intent. The Subscriber is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for Subscriber’s own account (and/or for the account or benefit of its members or affiliates, as permitted, pursuant to the terms of an agreement (the “Insider Letter”) to be entered into with respect to the Securities between, among others, the Subscriber and the Company, as described in the Registration Statement), and not with a view to the distribution thereof and the Subscriber has no present arrangement to sell the Securities to or through any person or entity except as may be permitted under the Insider Letter. the Subscriber shall not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Securities unless in compliance with the Securities Act.
2.4. Restrictions on Transfer. The Subscriber acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and, if in the future the Subscriber decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subscriber acknowledges and understands the Securities are subject to transfer restrictions as described in Section 8 hereof. The Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, the Subscriber may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company with respect to such transfer. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, the Subscriber agrees it will not resell the Securities (unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the Insider Letter, as described in the Registration Statement). The Subscriber further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to the Subscriber for the resale of the Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
2.5. Sophisticated Investor.
(i) The Subscriber is sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities.
(ii) The Subscriber is aware that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and subject to substantial risks because, among other things, the Securities are subject to transfer restrictions and have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Subscriber is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time.
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2.6. Independent Investigation. The Subscriber, in making the decision to purchase the Units, has relied upon an independent investigation of the Company and has not relied upon any information or representations made by any third parties or upon any oral or written representations or assurances from the Company, its officers, directors or employees or any other representatives or agents of the Company, other than as set forth in this Agreement. The Subscriber is familiar with the business, operations and financial condition of the Company and has had an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from the Company’s officers and directors concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Units and has had full access to such other information concerning the Company as the Subscriber has requested. The Subscriber confirms that all documents that it has requested have been made available and that the Subscriber has been supplied with all of the additional information concerning this investment which the Subscriber has requested.
2.7. Organization and Authority. The Subscriber is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and it possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.8. Authority. This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Subscriber and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the general principles of equity and to bankruptcy or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.
2.9. No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Subscriber’s charter documents, (ii) any agreement or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Subscriber is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber is subject.
2.10. No Legal Advice from Company. The Subscriber acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with the Subscriber’s own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, the Subscriber is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
2.11. Reliance on Representations and Warranties. The Subscriber understands the Units are being offered and sold to the Subscriber in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Subscriber set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.12. No General Solicitation. The Subscriber is not subscribing for the Units as a result of or subsequent to any general solicitation or general advertising, including but not limited to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting or in a registration statement with respect to the IPO filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
2.13. Legend. The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees the certificates (if any) evidencing each of the Securities shall bear a restrictive legend (the “Legend”), in form and substance substantially as set forth in Section 4 hereof.
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3. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Subscriber that:
3.1. Valid Issuance of Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company has authority to issue is 400,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). As of the date hereof, the Company has issued and outstanding 2,300,000 shares of Common Stock (of which up to 300,000 shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement) and no shares of Preferred Stock. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
3.2. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and that certain rights agreement to be entered into between the Company and Continental, as rights agent (the “Rights Agreement”), as the case may be, each of the Units, Placement Shares, Placement Rights and Rights Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. On the date of issuance of the Units, the Rights Shares shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Rights Agreement, as the case may be, the Subscriber will have or receive good title to the Units, Placement Shares and Placement Rights, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and pursuant to the Insider Letter and (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws.
3.3. Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4. Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or stockholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5. `No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s articles of incorporation or by-laws, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any SEC or state securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Units, Placement Shares, Placement Rights or Rights Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.
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4. Legends
4.1. Legend. The Company will issue the Units, Placement Shares and Placement Rights, and when issued, the Rights Shares, purchased by the Subscriber in the name of the Subscriber. The certificates (if any) evidencing Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THIS CORPORATION, IS AVAILABLE.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PURSUANT TO AN INSIDER LETTER BETWEEN, AMONG OTHERS, FG MERGER II CORP., AND FG MERGER INVESTORS II LLC, AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE INSIDER LETTER.”
4.2. Subscriber’s Compliance. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Subscriber’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3. Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities. The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (ii) in compliance herewith and with the Insider Letter.
4.4. Registration Rights. The Subscriber will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) to be entered into between, among others, the Subscriber and the Company, on or prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement.
5. Waiver of Liquidation Distributions.
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions of the amounts in the Trust Account with respect to the Securities, whether (i) in connection with the exercise of redemption rights if the Company consummates the Business Combination, (ii) in connection with any tender offer conducted by the Company prior to a Business Combination, (iii) upon the Company’s redemption of shares of Common Stock sold in the Company’s IPO upon the Company’s failure to timely complete the Business Combination or (iv) in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if the Company does not timely complete the Business Combination or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity. In the event the Subscriber purchases shares of Common Stock in the IPO or in the aftermarket, any additional shares so purchased shall be eligible to receive the redemption value of such shares of Common Stock upon the same terms offered to all other purchasers of Common Stock in the IPO in the event the Company fails to consummate the Business Combination.
6. Terms of Placement Rights. Each Placement Right shall have the terms set forth in the Rights Agreement.
7. [Reserved].
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8. Terms of the Units
8.1. The Units and their component parts are substantially identical to the units to be offered in the IPO except that: (i) the Units and component parts are subject to the transfer restrictions described in the Insider Letter and (ii) the Units and component parts are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after the expiration of the lockup described above in clause (i) and they are registered pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to be signed on or before the date of the Prospectus or an exemption from registration is available.
8.2. The Subscriber agrees to vote the Placement Shares in accordance with the terms of the Insider Letter and as otherwise described in the Registration Statement.
9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such state. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
10. Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
10.1. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Subscriber to a person agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof, including the waiver contained in Section 5 hereof.
10.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter thereof and merges and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature among them.
10.3. Amendment. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by all of the parties hereto.
10.4. Binding upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
11. Notices
11.1. Notices. Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice or other communication to a party hereunder shall be sufficiently given if in writing and personally delivered or sent by facsimile or other electronic transmission with copy sent in another manner herein provided or sent by courier (which for all purposes of this Agreement shall include Federal Express or other recognized overnight courier) or mailed to said party by certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address provided for herein or such other address as either may designate for itself in such notice to the other. Communications shall be deemed to have been received when delivered personally, on the scheduled arrival date when sent by next day or 2nd-day courier service, or if sent by facsimile upon receipt of confirmation of transmittal or, if sent by mail, then three days after deposit in the mail. If given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered (a) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (b) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice; and (c) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
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12. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
13. Survival; Severability
13.1. Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive each Closing Date.
13.2. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
14. Headings.
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| FG MERGER II CORP. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| SUBSCRIBER: | ||
| FG MERGER INVESTORS II LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit 10.6
INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
This INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [_], 2024, by and between FG Merger II Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and __________ (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities;
WHEREAS, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself;
WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Charter”) and the Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). The Charter, Bylaws and the NRS expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director, advisor or in another capacity without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated as of [_], 2024, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitee’s resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, in each case as provided in Section 16. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:
(a) “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
(b) “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Other than FG Merger Investors II LLC (the “Sponsor”) or any of its affiliates, any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;
(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than an affiliate of the Sponsor, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;
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(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such stockholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or
(v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
(d) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(e) “Nevada Court” shall mean the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County.
(f) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(g) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, manager, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
(h) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(i) “Expenses” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below), including reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. “Expenses,” however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(j) “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan.
(k) “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporate law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
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(l) “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(m) “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by Indemnitee or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
(n) “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.
(o) “Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.
3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Nevada Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.
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5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 26, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 26, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.
7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5 and except for Section 26, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7 on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.
8. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.
(a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
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9. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, except for Section 26, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise.
(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.
10. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.
(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 11(a) of this Agreement.
11. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods: (i) if no Change in Control has occurred (x) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (y) by a committee of Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (z) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control has occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 11(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Nevada Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Nevada Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
12. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.
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(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, trustees, general partners, managers or managing members of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 12(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
13. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Nevada Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Nevada law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.
(c) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, and exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, and exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 13, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 9 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).
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(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter, or the Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).
(g) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Nevada law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
14. SECURITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 26, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
15. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.
(a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
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(b) The NRS, the Charter and the Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the NRS, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managers, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 25, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.
16. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.
17. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
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18. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.
(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(c) The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.
19. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
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20. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed on such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.
(b) If to the Company, to:
FG Merger II Corp.
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A
Itasca, Illinois 60143
Attention: Larry G. Swets, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10174
| Attn: | Mitchell S. Nussbaum |
| Giovanni Caruso |
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
21. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Nevada, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Nevada Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Nevada Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Nevada Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Nevada Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 20 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
22. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
23. MISCELLANEOUS. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
24. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
25. ADDITIONAL ACTS. If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
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26. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever.
27. MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
| FG MERGER II CORP. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| INDEMNITEE | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Address: | |||
[Signature Page to Indemnity Agreement]
Exhibit 10.9
FG MERGER II CORP.
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A,
Itasca, IL 60143
[_], 2024
FG Merger Investors LLC
104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A,
Itasca, IL 60143
| Re: | Administrative Services Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) by and among FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) and FG Merger Investors II LLC (the “Sponsor”), dated as of the date hereof, will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the date the securities of the Company are first listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Listing Date”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration Statement”) and continuing until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”):
1. The Sponsor shall make available, or cause to be made available, to the Company, at 104 S. Walnut Street, Unit 1A, Itasca, IL 60143 (or any successor location), office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative services as may be reasonably required by the Company. In exchange therefor, the Company shall pay the Sponsor $15,000 per month on the Listing Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date; and
2. The Sponsor hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title, interest, causes of action and claims of any kind as a result of, or arising out of, this Agreement (each, a “Claim”) in or to, and any and all right to seek payment of any amounts due to it out of, the trust account established for the benefit of the public stockholders of the Company and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering will be deposited (the “Trust Account”), and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this Agreement, which Claim would reduce, encumber or otherwise adversely affect the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, and further agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction of any Claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.
This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.
No party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
This Agreement constitutes the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of law principles.
[Signature Page Follows]
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FG MERGER II CORP. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Larry G. Swets, Jr. | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
| FG MERGER INVESTORS LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]
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Exhibit 14
FG MERGER II CORP.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
Effective [_], 2024
I. INTRODUCTION
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of FG Merger II Corp. has adopted this code of business conduct and ethics (this “Code”), as amended from time to time by the Board and which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) (each a “person,” as used herein) of the Company (as defined below), to:
| · | promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| · | promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company; |
| · | promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| · | deter wrongdoing; and |
| · | require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code. |
This Code may be amended or modified by the Board. In this Code, references to the “Company” mean FG Merger II Corp. and, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.
II. HONEST, ETHICAL AND FAIR CONDUCT
Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination of principle are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain or advantage.
Each person must:
| · | Act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or when in the Company’s interests; |
| · | Observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| · | Comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data; |
| · | Adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices; |
| · | Deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees; |
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| · | Refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice; |
| · | Protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use; |
| · | Subject to, and except as permitted by, the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time (the “charter”), not (i) take for themselves corporate or business opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate property, information or position and(ii) use corporate property, information or position for personal gain; and |
| · | Avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except as may be allowed under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board (or the appropriate committee of the Board), as disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC or as permitted by the charter. Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict for a member of his or her immediate family or any other close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following: |
| · | any significant ownership interest in any supplier or customer; |
| · | any consulting or employment relationship with any supplier or customer; |
| · | the receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts or excessive entertainment from any entity with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings; |
| · | selling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as comparable officers or directors are permitted to so purchase or sell; |
| · | any other financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the Company; and |
| · | any other circumstance, event, relationship or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes - or even appears to interfere - with the interests of the Company as a whole. |
III. DISCLOSURE
The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC and other public communications shall be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:
| · | not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent registered public accountants, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and |
| · | in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness. |
In addition to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company, must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.
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Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Chairperson of the Board (the “Chairperson”) any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.
IV. COMPLIANCE
It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. It is the personal responsibility of each person to, and each person must, adhere to the standards and restrictions imposed by those laws, rules and regulations, including those relating to accounting and auditing matters.
V. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The Board is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairperson promptly. Failure to do so is, in and of itself, a breach of this Code.
Specifically, each person must:
| · | Notify the Chairperson promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code; and |
| · | Not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith. |
The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on this Code:
| · | The Board will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it; and |
| · | Upon determination by the Board that a breach has occurred, the Board (by majority decision) will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Company’s internal or external legal counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities. |
No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion suspension, threat, harassment or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.
VI. WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS
Any waiver (defined below) or implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is required to be disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. In lieu of filing a Current Report on Form 8-K to report any such waivers or amendments, the Company may provide such information on its website and keep such information on the website for at least 12 months and disclose the website address as well as any intention to provide such disclosures in this manner in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
A “waiver” means the approval by the Board of a material departure from a provision of this Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of this Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.
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All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.
VII. INSIDER TRADING AND DISSEMINATION OF INSIDE INFORMATION
Each person shall comply with the Company’s Policy Regarding Insider Trading and Dissemination of Inside Information.
VIII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER RECORDS
All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation. Records should always be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Board or the Company’s internal or external legal counsel.
IX. IMPROPER INFLUENCE ON CONDUCT OF AUDITS
No director, officer or employee, or any other person acting under the direction thereof, shall directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence any public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements of the Company or take any action that such person knows or should know that if successful could result in rendering the Company’s financial statements materially misleading. Any person who believes such improper influence is being exerted should report such action to such person’s supervisor, or if that is impractical under the circumstances, to any of the Company’s directors.
Types of conduct that could constitute improper influence include, but are not limited to, directly or indirectly:
| · | Offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, including future employment or contracts for non-audit services; |
| · | Providing an auditor with an inaccurate or misleading legal analysis; |
| · | Threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the Company’s accounting; |
| · | Seeking to have a partner removed from the audit engagement because the partner objects to the Company’s accounting; |
| · | Blackmailing; and |
| · | Making physical threats. |
X. ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS
The Company complies with the anti-corruption laws of the countries in which it does business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. To the extent prohibited by applicable law, directors, officers and employees will not directly or indirectly give anything of value to government officials, including employees of state-owned enterprises or foreign political candidates. These requirements apply both to Company employees and agents, such as third party sales representatives, no matter where they are doing business. If you are authorized to engage agents, you are responsible for ensuring they are reputable and for obtaining a written agreement to uphold the Company’s standards in this area.
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XI. VIOLATIONS
Violation of this Code is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.
XII. OTHER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the effective date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.
XIII. INQUIRIES
All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Chairperson, or such other compliance officer as shall be designated from time to time by the Board.
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Amendment 2) of our audit report dated August 22, 2024 with respect to the balance sheet of FG Merger II Corp. as of December 31, 2023, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the period from inception (September 20, 2023) through December 31, 2023. Our opinion includes an emphasis of matter paragraph regarding substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
Fruci & Associates II, PLLC – PCAOB ID #05525
Spokane, Washington
August 22, 2024
Exhibit 99.1
FG MERGER II CORP.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Effective [_], 2024
I. PURPOSES
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) to assist the Board in its oversight of the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. To assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee shall: (A) oversee: (i) audits of the financial statements of the Company; (ii) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (iii) the Company’s processes relating to risk management and the conduct and systems of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; (iv) the qualifications, engagement, compensation, independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditor, and the auditor’s conduct of the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements and any other services provided to the Company; and (v) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, if any; and (B) produce the annual report of the Committee required by the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
A. Composition
The Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board, subject to applicable phase-in rules of the Nasdaq Global Market (the “NASDAQ”). Except as otherwise directed by the Board, a director selected as a Committee member shall continue to be a member for as long as he or she remains a director or until his or her earlier resignation or removal from the Committee. Any member may be removed from the Committee by the Board, with or without cause, at any time. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Board.
B. Chair
The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed from among the Committee members by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board, shall preside at meetings of the Committee and shall have authority to convene meetings, set agendas for meetings, and determine the Committee’s information needs, except as otherwise provided by the Board or the Committee, provided that if the Board does not so designate a chairperson, the members of the Committee, by a majority vote, may designate a chairperson. In the absence of the Chair at a duly convened meeting, the Committee shall select a temporary substitute from among its members to serve as chair of the meeting.
C. Independence
Each member of the Committee shall be an “independent” director in accordance with applicable listing standards of the NASDAQ and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, subject to any exceptions or cure periods that are applicable pursuant to the foregoing requirements and the phase-in periods permitted under the rules of the NASDAQ under which the Committee is required to have only one independent member at the time of listing, a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing and all independent members within one year of listing. Any action duly taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not the members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership provided herein.
D. Financial Literacy
Each member of the Committee shall in the business judgment of the Board have the ability to read and understand fundamental financial statements and otherwise meet the financial literacy requirements of the NASDAQ. At least one member shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under applicable SEC rules.
E. Service on Multiple Audit Committees
No member of the Committee may serve on the audit committee of more than three public companies, including the Company, unless the Board has determined that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the Committee.
III. AUTHORITY
In discharging its role, the Committee is empowered to inquire into any matter that it considers appropriate to carry out its responsibilities, with access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of the Company, and, subject to the direction of the Board, the Committee is authorized and delegated the authority to act on behalf of the Board with respect to any matter it determines to be necessary or appropriate to the accomplishment of its purposes.
The Committee shall have authority to retain, direct and oversee the activities of, and to terminate the engagement of, the Company’s independent auditor and any other accounting firm retained by the Committee to prepare or issue any other audit report or to perform any other audit, review or attest services and any legal counsel, accounting or other advisor or consultant hired to assist the Committee, all of whom shall be accountable to the Committee.
The Company shall provide the Committee with appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for the payment of (a) compensation to any registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company; (b) compensation to any independent counsel or other advisers retained by the Committee in carrying out its duties; and (c) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
IV. COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Committee shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis at least four times per year and additionally as circumstances dictate.
The Committee shall establish its own schedule of meetings. The Committee may also act by unanimous written consent of its members.
Notice of meetings shall be given to all Committee members or may be waived, in the same manner as required for meetings of the Board. Meetings of the Committee may be held by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak with each other. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for a meeting and the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the action of the Committee. The Committee shall otherwise establish its own rules of procedure.
The Committee shall meet in executive session separately with each of the independent auditor, the internal auditor, if any, and with senior management, at least quarterly. At the end of each of the Committee’s regularly scheduled meetings, and more frequently as deemed necessary, the Committee shall meet in private session with only the Committee members.
V. DELEGATION
The Committee, by resolution approved by a majority of the Committee, may form and delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee so long as such subcommittee is solely comprised of one or more members of the Committee and such delegation is not otherwise inconsistent with law and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the NASDAQ.
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VI. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee relies on the expertise and knowledge of management, the internal auditors, if any, and the independent auditor in carrying out its oversight responsibilities. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, for the appropriateness of the accounting principles and reporting policies that are used by the Company, and for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. The independent auditor is responsible for auditing the Company’s financial statements and, if applicable, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and for reviewing the Company’s unaudited interim financial statements.
The responsibilities set forth in this charter do not reflect or create any duty or obligation of the Committee to plan or conduct any audit; to determine or certify that the Company’s financial statements are complete, accurate, fairly presented or in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or applicable law; to guarantee or otherwise certify as to the independent auditor’s reports; to conduct investigations; or to assure compliance with laws and regulations or the Company’s code of business conduct and ethics, internal policies, procedures and controls. The following responsibilities are set forth as a guide for fulfilling the Committee’s purposes in such manner as the Committee determines is appropriate.
A. Oversight of the Independent Auditor
| (i) | Independent Auditor Retention. The Committee is solely and directly responsible for the appointment, evaluation, compensation, retention and, if appropriate, replacement of the independent auditor. The Committee may, in its discretion, seek stockholder ratification of the public accounting firm selected to be the Company’s independent auditor. |
| (ii) | Independence. The Committee shall assess at least annually the independent auditor’s independence. In connection with this assessment, the Committee shall ensure the receipt of and review formal written statements from the independent auditor delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company, consistent with applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Committee concerning independence. The Committee shall engage in an active dialogue with the independent auditor concerning any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor and take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee and ensure the independence of the auditor. |
| (iii) | Quality and Performance. The Committee shall evaluate at least annually the qualifications and performance of the independent auditor, including the lead partner. The evaluation will include obtaining a written report from the independent auditor describing the firm’s internal quality control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, PCAOB inspection, or other PCAOB review of the firm, by a peer review of the firm or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the past five years, concerning an independent audit or audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to address any such issues. |
| (iv) | General Oversight. The independent auditor reports directly to the Committee. The Committee is responsible for oversight of the work of the independent auditor, including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting. In connection with its oversight responsibility, the Committee shall consider the independent auditor’s communications regarding, among other things, critical accounting policies and practices, all alternative accounting treatments within GAAP related to items material to the financial statements that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the alternative treatments and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor, and all material written communications between the independent auditor and management, and shall review the effect or potential effect of any regulatory regime, accounting initiatives or off-balance sheet structures on the Company’s financial statements. |
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| (v) | Audit Oversight. The Committee shall establish with the independent auditor an understanding of the terms of the audit engagement, the role of the auditor with respect to the Company’s financial statements and coordination of audit efforts to ensure completeness of coverage, reduction of redundant efforts, the effective use of audit resources, and the use of accounting firms other than the appointed auditors of the Company. The Committee shall review the scope of the annual audit or interim review (including the level of involvement with unaudited quarterly or other interim-period information), and discuss the results, including, without limitation, the independent auditor’s report and all matters required to be communicated to the Committee by the independent auditor in accordance with applicable auditing standards. | |
| The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor, before the issuance of the audit report, the overall audit strategy, including the timing of the audit, significant risks the auditor identified and significant changes to the planned audit strategy or identified risks. The Committee shall review with the independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties encountered during the course of the audit work and management’s response, including any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditor’s activities or access to required records, data and information, any difficult or contentious matters for which the auditor consulted outside the engagement team (for example, the audit firm’s national office), any significant disagreements with management, and any other matters arising from the audit that are significant to the oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process. |
| (vi) | Auditor Rotation. The Committee shall consider whether, in addition to assuring the regular rotation of the lead audit partner as required by law, in the interest of assuring continuing independence of an independent auditor, the Company should regularly rotate the firm appointed as the Company’s independent auditor. |
| (vii) | Pre-Approval of Auditor Services. The Committee is exclusively authorized and directed to consider and, in its discretion, approve in advance any services (including the fees and material terms thereof) proposed to be carried out for the Company by the independent auditor or by any other firm proposed to be engaged by the Company as its independent auditor. In connection with approval of any permissible tax services and services related to internal control over financial reporting, the Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor the potential effects of such services on the independence of the auditor. |
B. Financial Statements and Other Financial Disclosures
| (i) | Quality and Integrity of Financial Statements. The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor: the critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company, and any significant changes in the selection or application of the Company’s accounting and auditing principles and practices as suggested by the Company’s independent auditor, internal auditors, if any, or management; the accounting treatment to be applied in respect of significant new transactions or other significant events not in the ordinary course of the Company’s business; other policies and procedures adopted by the Company to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the presentation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including the proper explanation and reconciliation of any non-GAAP measures presented; and any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements. |
| (ii) | Audited Financial Statements. The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor, before the issuance of the audit report, the financial statements and related notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” proposed to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. In this connection, the Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the analyses prepared by management setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements (including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements), and such other matters for which discussion shall be required by applicable auditing and related PCAOB standards. The Committee shall make a recommendation to the Board as to whether such financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
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| (iii) | Audit Committee Report. The Committee shall annually prepare an audit committee report for inclusion where necessary in the proxy statement relating to the annual meeting of stockholders and/or annual report of the Company. |
| (iv) | Quarterly Financial Statements. The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the quarterly financial statements and related notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” proposed to be included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with the analyses prepared by management setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, and such other matters for which discussion shall be required by applicable auditing standards and related PCAOB standards. |
| (v) | Earnings Releases and Other Financial Information. The Committee shall discuss with management and the independent auditor and, prior to issuance, review and approve the Company’s earnings releases, including the financial information, use of any “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information, and earnings guidance (if such is provided) to be disclosed in such releases. The Committee shall also discuss with management other significant financial information to be provided to analysts or rating agencies. |
| (vi) | Payments. The Committee shall review on a quarterly basis all payments made to the Company’s sponsor, officers or directors, or to the Company’s or their affiliates. |
C. Controls and Procedures
| (i) | Oversight. The Committee shall provide oversight of management’s design and maintenance of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Prior to the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Committee shall review with the independent auditor, management and the head of the internal audit function, if any: the Company’s annual assessment and report and the independent auditor’s report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, to the extent then applicable; any “material weakness” or “significant deficiency” in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting, any steps taken to resolve any such control deficiencies and the adequacy of disclosures about changes in internal control over financial reporting; and any related significant findings and recommendations of the independent auditor or internal audit function, if any, together with management’s responses (including, in the case of the independent auditor, any concerns regarding matters within the scope of, and compliance with, Section 10A of the Exchange Act). |
| (ii) | Certifications. The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the certifications and any related disclosures made by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in the Company’s periodic reports about the results of their evaluation of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures and any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting, and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, prior to the filing of the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. |
| (iii) | Internal Audit Function. At least annually, the Committee shall review with the independent auditor the responsibilities, budget, staffing, effectiveness and performance of the internal audit function, if any, including the structure, qualification and activities of the internal audit function and the scope of internal audit responsibilities in relation to the independent auditor’s duties. The Committee shall review and assess the annual internal audit plan, if any, the process used to develop the plan, and the status of activities, significant findings, recommendations and management’s response. The Committee shall recommend for Board approval all matters related to responsibilities, budget and staffing of the internal audit function, if any. The Committee shall recommend for Board approval the appointment and, if appropriate, replacement of the senior internal audit executive. |
| (iv) | Hiring Policies. The Committee shall establish clear policies regarding the hiring of employees and former employees of the Company’s independent auditor. |
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D. Risk Management, Compliance and Ethics
| (i) | Risk Management. The Committee shall review and discuss with management, the head of the internal audit function, if any, and the independent auditor any significant risks or exposures and the Company’s policies and processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and shall assess the steps management has taken to monitor and control such risks, except with respect to those risks for which oversight has been assigned to other committees of the Board or retained by the Board. The Committee shall review the Company’s annual disclosures concerning the role of the Board in the risk oversight of the Company. |
| (ii) | Legal and Regulatory Compliance. The Committee shall review and assess with the Chairman, Co-Chairman or Co-Executive Chairman of the Board or outside counsel, as appropriate, legal and regulatory matters that may have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Committee shall also review and recommend for Board approval the code of business conduct and ethics and any other appropriate compliance policies, and will review requests for waivers under the code of business conduct and ethics sought with respect to any executive officer or director. The Committee shall review annually with the Chairman, Co-Chairman or Co-Executive Chairman of the Board or outside counsel, as appropriate, the scope, implementation and effectiveness of the ethics and compliance program, and any significant deviations by officers and employees from the code of business conduct and ethics or other compliance policies, and other matters pertaining to the integrity of management. |
| (iii) | Procedures for Complaints. The Committee shall establish “whistleblowing” procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by the Company’s employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Committee shall review any such significant complaints or concerns. |
| (iv) | Review and Approval of Swap Transactions. The Committee shall at least annually review and approve the Company’s decision to enter into swaps and other derivative transactions that are exempt from exchange-execution and clearance requirements under “end-user exception” regulations, and review and discuss with management applicable Company policies governing the Company’s use of swaps subject to the end-user exception. |
| (v) | Related Person Transactions. The Committee shall review and, if appropriate, approve or ratify any related person transactions and other significant conflicts of interest, in each case in accordance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Related Party Transactions Policy. |
| (vi) | Compliance with Terms of Initial Public Offering. The Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the Company’s initial public offering and promptly take all action necessary to rectify any noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of such offering. |
E. Self-Evaluation and Reporting
| (i) | Self-Evaluation and Charter Review. The Committee shall conduct an annual self-evaluation of the performance of the Committee, including its effectiveness and compliance with this charter, and recommend to the Board such amendments of this charter as the Committee deems appropriate. |
| (ii) | Reporting. The Committee shall report regularly to the Board on Committee findings and recommendations and any other matters the Committee deems appropriate or the Board requests, and maintain minutes or other records of Committee meetings and activities. |
The Committee shall undertake such other responsibilities or tasks as the Board may delegate or assign to the Committee from time to time.
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Exhibit 99.2
FG MERGER II CORP.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
Effective [_], 2024
I. PURPOSES
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) to, among other things: (A) assist the Board in overseeing the Company’s employee compensation policies and practices, including (i) determining and approving the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Company’s other executive officers, and (ii) reviewing and approving incentive compensation and equity compensation policies and programs, and exercising discretion in the administration of such programs; and (B) produce the annual report of the Committee required by the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
A. Composition
The Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board. Except as otherwise directed by the Board, a director selected as a Committee member shall continue to be a member for as long as he or she remains a director or until his or her earlier resignation or removal from the Committee. Any member may be removed from the Committee by the Board, with or without cause, at any time. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Board.
B. Chair
The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed from among the Committee members by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board, shall preside at meetings of the Committee and shall have authority to convene meetings, set agendas for meetings, and determine the Committee’s information needs, except as otherwise provided by the Board or the Committee, provided that if the Board does not so designate a chairperson, the members of the Committee, by a majority vote, may designate a chairperson. In the absence of the Chair at a duly convened meeting, the Committee shall select a temporary substitute from among its members to serve as chair of the meeting.
C. Independence
Each member of the Committee shall be an “independent” director in accordance with the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) and applicable SEC rules, including standards specifically applicable to compensation committee members, subject to any exceptions or cure periods that are applicable pursuant to the foregoing requirements and the phase-in periods permitted under the rules of the NASDAQ under which the Committee is required to have only one independent member at the time of listing, a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing and all independent members within one year of listing. Any action duly taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not the members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership provided herein.
III. AUTHORITY
In discharging its role, the Committee is empowered to inquire into any matter that it considers appropriate to carry out its responsibilities, with access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of the Company, and, subject to the direction of the Board, the Committee is authorized and delegated the authority to act on behalf of the Board with respect to any matter necessary or appropriate to the accomplishment of its purposes.
The Committee shall have the sole discretion to retain or obtain advice from, oversee and terminate any compensation consultant, external legal counsel or other adviser to the Committee and be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of any work of such adviser retained by the Committee, and the Company will provide appropriate funding (as determined by the Committee) for the payment of reasonable compensation to any such adviser. Before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the Committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.
IV. COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities, which, following the Company’s initial business combination, shall be at least quarterly.
The Committee shall establish its own schedule of meetings. The Committee may also act by unanimous written consent of its members.
Notice of meetings shall be given to all Committee members or may be waived, in the same manner as required for meetings of the Board. Meetings of the Committee may be held by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak with each other. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for a meeting and the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the action of the Committee. The Committee shall otherwise establish its own rules of procedure.
V. DELEGATION
The Committee, by resolution approved by a majority of the Committee, may form and delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee so long as such subcommittee is solely comprised of one or more members of the Committee and such delegation is not otherwise inconsistent with law and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the NASDAQ.
In addition, the Committee may, by resolution approved by a majority of the Committee, delegate to management the administration of the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans, to the extent permitted by law and as may be permitted by such plans and subject to such rules, policies and guidelines (including limits on the aggregate awards that may be made pursuant to such delegation) as the Committee shall approve, provided that, consistent with Section VI below, the Committee shall determine and approve the awards made under such plan to any executive officer and any other member of senior management as the Committee shall designate and shall at least annually review the awards made to such other members of senior management as the Committee shall designate.
VI. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The following responsibilities are set forth as a guide for fulfilling the Committee’s purposes in such manner as the Committee determines is appropriate:
| (a) | establish and review the objectives of the Company’s management compensation programs and its basic compensation policies; |
| (b) | review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO and other executive officers, including annual and long-term performance goals and objectives; |
| (c) | review and approve, subject to such further action of the Board as the Board shall determine, any employment, compensation, benefit or severance agreement with any executive officer; |
| (d) | evaluate at least annually the performance of the CEO and other executive officers against corporate goals and objectives including the annual performance objectives and, based on this evaluation, determine and approve, subject to such further action of the Board as the Board shall determine, the compensation (including any awards under any equity-based compensation or non-equity-based incentive compensation plan of the Company and any material perquisites) for the executive officers based on this evaluation; |
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| (e) | determine and approve the compensation level (including any awards under any equity-based compensation or non-equity-based incentive compensation plan of the Company and any material perquisites) for other members of senior management of the Company as the Committee or the Board may from time to time determine to be appropriate; |
| (f) | review at least annually the compensation of other employees as the Committee determines to be appropriate (including any awards under any equity-based compensation or non-equity-based incentive compensation plan of the Company and any material perquisites); |
| (g) | review on a periodic basis the Company’s management compensation programs, including any management incentive compensation plans as well as plans and policies pertaining to perquisites, to determine whether they are appropriate, properly coordinated and achieve their intended purpose(s), and recommend to the Board any appropriate modifications or new plans, programs or policies; |
| (h) | review, approve and recommend to the Board the adoption of any equity-based compensation plan for employees of or consultants to the Company and any modification of any such plan; |
| (i) | administer the Company’s equity-based compensation plans for employees of and consultants to the Company as provided by the terms of such plans, including authorizing all awards made pursuant to such plans; |
| (j) | review, approve and recommend to the Board the adoption of any non-equity-based incentive compensation plan for employees of or consultants to the Company and any material modification of any such plan and review at least annually the awards made pursuant to such plans; |
| (k) | review, approve and recommend to the Board the adoption of any employee retirement plan, and other material employee benefit plan, and any material modification of any such plan; |
| (l) | review at least annually (a) the Company’s compensation policies and practices for executives, management employees and employees generally to assess whether such policies and practices could lead to excessive risk taking behavior and (b) the manner in which any risks arising out of the Company’s compensation policies and practices are monitored and mitigated and adjustments necessary to address changes in the Company’s risk profile; |
| (m) | with respect to any compensation consultant who has been engaged to make determinations or recommendations on the amount or form of executive or director compensation: (a) annually, or from time to time as the Committee deems appropriate, assess whether the work of any such compensation consultant (whether retained by the compensation committee or management) has raised any conflicts of interest; and (b) review the engagement and the nature of any additional services provided by such compensation consultant to the Committee or to management, as well as all remuneration provided to such consultant; |
| (n) | annually, or from time to time as the Committee deems appropriate and prior to retention of any advisers to the Committee, assess the independence of compensation consultants, legal and other advisers to the Committee, taking into consideration all relevant factors the Committee deems appropriate to such adviser’s independence, including factors specified in the listing standards of the NASDAQ; |
| (o) | review and discuss with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis disclosure required by SEC regulations and determine whether to recommend to the Board, as part of a report of the Committee to the Board, that such disclosure be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and any proxy statement for the election of directors; as part of this review, the Committee shall consider the results of the most recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation (“say-on-pay” vote) required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act; |
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| (p) | at least every six years or more frequently as appropriate, make a recommendation to the Board regarding the frequency with which the Company will conduct a say-on-pay vote; |
| (q) | review the form and amount of director compensation at least annually, and make recommendations thereon to the Board; |
| (r) | oversee and monitor other compensation related policies and practices of the Company, including: (i) the Company’s stock ownership guidelines for directors and executive officers; (ii) compliance by management with rules regarding equity-based compensation plans for employees and consultants pursuant to the terms of such plans, and the guidelines for issuance of awards as the Board or Committee may establish; and (iii) the Company’s recoupment policy and procedures; |
| (s) | oversee stockholder communications relating to executive compensation and review and make recommendations with respect to stockholder proposals related to compensation matters; |
| (t) | conduct an annual self-evaluation of the performance of the Committee, including its effectiveness and compliance with this charter, and recommend to the Board such amendments of this charter as the Committee deems appropriate; |
| (u) | report regularly to the Board on Committee findings and recommendations and any other matters the Committee deems appropriate or the Board requests, and maintain minutes or other records of Committee meetings and activities; |
| (v) | from and after the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, in consultation with the CEO, annually report to the Board on succession planning, which shall include emergency CEO succession, CEO succession in the ordinary course and succession for other members of senior management, working with the entire Board to evaluate potential successors to the CEO; and |
| (w) | undertake such other responsibilities or tasks as the Board may delegate or assign to the Committee from time to time. |
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Exhibit 99.3
FG MERGER II CORP.
NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
Effective [_], 2024
I. INTRODUCTION
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Committee”) is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of FG Merger II Corp. (the “Company”) to: (i) identify and screen individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommend to the Board candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill Board vacancies; (ii) develop, recommend to the Board and review the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines; (iii) coordinate and oversee the annual self-evaluation of the Board, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the Company; and (iv) review on a regular basis the overall corporate governance of the Company and recommend improvements for approval by the Board where appropriate.
II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
A. Composition
The Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board. Except as otherwise directed by the Board, a director selected as a Committee member shall continue to be a member for as long as he or she remains a director or until his or her earlier resignation or removal from the Committee. Any member may be removed from the Committee by the Board, with or without cause, at any time.
B. Chair
The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed from among the Committee members by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board, shall preside at meetings of the Committee and shall have authority to convene meetings, set agendas for meetings, and determine the Committee’s information needs, except as otherwise provided by the Board or the Committee. In the absence of the Chair at a duly convened meeting, the Committee shall select a temporary substitute from among its members to serve as chair of the meeting. The Chair of the Committee shall serve as “Administrator” of the Company’s Policy Regarding Insider Trading and Dissemination of Inside Information in the circumstances and to the extent described therein.
C. Independence
Each member of the Committee shall be an “independent” director in accordance with the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, subject to any exceptions or cure periods that are applicable pursuant to the foregoing requirements and the phase-in periods permitted under the rules of the NASDAQ under which the Committee is required to have only one independent member at the time of listing, a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing and all independent members within one year of listing. Any action duly taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not the members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership provided herein.
III. AUTHORITY
In discharging its role, the Committee is empowered to inquire into any matter it considers appropriate to carry out its responsibilities, with access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of the Company, and, subject to the direction of the Board, the Committee is authorized and delegated the authority to act on behalf of the Board with respect to any matter necessary or appropriate to the accomplishment of its purposes.
The Committee shall have the sole discretion to retain or obtain advice from, oversee and terminate any director search or recruitment consultant, legal counsel or other adviser to the Committee and be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of any work of such adviser retained by the Committee, and the Company will provide appropriate funding (as determined by the Committee) for the payment of reasonable compensation to any such adviser.
IV. COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities, which, following the Company’s initial business combination, shall be at least quarterly.
The Committee shall establish its own schedule of meetings. The Committee may also act by unanimous written consent of its members.
Notice of meetings shall be given to all Committee members or may be waived, in the same manner as required for meetings of the Board. Meetings of the Committee may be held by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak with each other. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for a meeting and the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the action of the Committee. The Committee shall otherwise establish its own rules of procedure.
V. DELEGATION
The Committee, by resolution approved by a majority of the Committee, may form and delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee so long as such subcommittee is solely comprised of one or more members of the Committee and such delegation is not otherwise inconsistent with law and applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the NASDAQ.
VI. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The following responsibilities are set forth as a guide for fulfilling the Committee’s purposes in such manner as the Committee determines is appropriate:
| (a) | recommend to the Board for approval, review the effectiveness of, recommend modifications as appropriate to, and review Company disclosures concerning: (a) the Company’s policies and procedures for identifying and screening Board nominee candidates; (b) the process and criteria (including experience, qualifications, attributes, diversity or skills in light of the Company’s business and structure) used to evaluate Board membership and director independence; and (c) any policies with regard to diversity on the Board; |
| (b) | identify and screen director candidates (including incumbent directors for potential renomination and candidates recommended by stockholders in accordance with the Company’s policies as set forth in its proxy statement) consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and recommend to the Board candidates for: (a) nomination for election or re-election by the stockholders; and (b) any Board vacancies that are to be filled by the Board subject to any rights regarding the selection of directors by holders of preferred stock and any other contractual or other commitments of the Company; |
| (c) | oversee the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders, including the submission of any proxy access nominees by stockholders; |
| (d) | review Company disclosures concerning the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that each director and nominee should serve as a director in light of the Company’s business and structure; |
| (e) | review annually the relationships between directors, the Company and members of management and recommend to the Board whether each director qualifies as “independent” under the Board’s definition of “independence” and the applicable rules of the NASDAQ and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines; |
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| (f) | assess the appropriateness of a director continuing to serve on the Board upon a substantial change in the director’s principal occupation or business association from the position such director held when originally invited to join the Board, and recommend to the Board any action to be taken with respect thereto; |
| (g) | assess annually whether the composition of the Board as a whole reflects the appropriate balance of independence, sound judgment, business specialization, technical skills, diversity and other desired qualities, and recommend any appropriate changes to the Board; |
| (h) | (i) review the Board’s leadership structure in light of the specific characteristics or circumstances of the Company and recommend any changes to the Board for approval; (ii) discuss in coordination with the Audit Committee the effect on the Board’s leadership structure of the Board’s role in the risk oversight of the Company; and (iii) review and approve Company disclosures relating to Board leadership; |
| (i) | review periodically the committee structure of the Board and recommend to the Board the appointment of directors to Board committees and assignment of committee chairs; |
| (j) | review periodically the size of the Board and recommend to the Board any appropriate changes; |
| (k) | coordinate with management to develop an appropriate director orientation program and identify continuing education opportunities; |
| (l) | coordinate and oversee the annual self-evaluation of the role and performance of the Board, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the Company; |
| (m) | develop and recommend to the Board, review the effectiveness of, and recommend modifications as appropriate to, the Corporate Governance Guidelines and other governance policies of the Company; |
| (n) | review and address conflicts of interest of directors and executive officers, and the manner in which any such conflicts are to be monitored; |
| (o) | review on a periodic basis, and as necessary when specific issues arise, relations with the Company’s stockholders and advise the Board on effective and appropriate stockholder communications; |
| (p) | review emerging corporate governance issues and practices, including proxy advisory firm policies and recommendations; |
| (q) | conduct an annual self-evaluation of the performance of the Committee, including its effectiveness and compliance with this charter, and recommend to the Board such amendments of this charter as the Committee deems appropriate; |
| (r) | report regularly to the Board on Committee findings, recommendations and any other matters the Committee deems appropriate or the Board requests, and maintain minutes or other records of Committee meetings and activities; |
| (s) | review all determinations and interpretations under the Company’s Policy Regarding Insider Trading and Dissemination of Inside Information; and |
| (t) | undertake such other responsibilities as the Board may delegate or assign to the Committee from time to time. |
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