As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2025
Registration No. 333-288524
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________________________
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
| | 6770 | N/A | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer |
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
Tel: (65) 9851 8611
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
_____________________________________
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
(212) 947-7200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
_____________________________________
Copies to:
|
Will Burns Chris Centrich Paul Hastings LLP 609 Main Street Suite 2500 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 860-7300 |
Mitchell Nussbaum Alexandria Kane Loeb & Loeb LLP 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 (212) 470-4000 |
_____________________________________
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 | ☐ | |||||
| | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | | |||||
| Emerging growth company | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
|
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS |
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 25, 2025. |
$110,000,000
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
11,000,000 Units
_____________________________________
Chenghe Acquisition III Co. is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, 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. We may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry or geographic region.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or our liquidation, as described herein. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 1,650,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.
Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company with its principal place of business in Hong Kong, and our co-sponsor (“Cayman Sponsor”), has committed to purchase an aggregate of
managing member of Cayman Sponsor is Chenghe Group, a British Virgin Islands incorporated company owned by the Chairman of our Advisory Board, Mr. Li. Mr. Li controls the management of Cayman Sponsor, and therefore Delaware Sponsor, including the exercise of voting and investment discretion over the securities of our company held by our co-sponsors. Mr. Li is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Three institutional investors (none of which are affiliated with any member of our management, Cayman Sponsor, BTIG or any other investor), which we refer to as the “sponsor non-managing members” throughout this prospectus, have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the non-managing membership interests of Delaware Sponsor in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. BTIG, LLC, the representative of the underwriters of this offering (“BTIG”) has committed to purchase an aggregate of
Cayman Sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per share, for an aggregate of 4,312,500 Class B ordinary shares. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), which, in each case (unless otherwise provided in an initial business combination agreement), will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to the adjustments described herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities (as described herein), are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which the Class B ordinary shares will convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 25% of the sum of all Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon the completion of this offering, plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, excluding the private placement shares and any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the business combination. Prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to elect and remove all of our directors prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and to vote to continue our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands and holders of our Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on such matters. On any other matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, holders of the Class B ordinary shares and holders of the Class A ordinary shares will vote together as a single class except as required by law or the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) then in effect. See “Summary — Our Company and Co-Sponsors” on page 2, “Summary — The Offering — Founder shares” on page 24, “Summary — The Offering — Transfer restrictions on founder shares” on page 27, “Summary — The Offering — Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights” on page 27, “Summary — The Offering — Appointment of directors; voting” on page 28, “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination and our co-sponsors are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate a business combination, even if the trading price of our ordinary shares materially declines.” on page 110, “— Risks Relating to our Securities — We may issue additional Class A ordinary shares or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon the conversion of the founder shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks” on page 106, “— Our co-sponsors paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from our co-sponsors’ purchase of our Class B ordinary shares” on page 107, “— Unlike
some other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies, our initial shareholders will receive additional Class A ordinary shares if we issue certain shares to consummate an initial business combination” on page 107 and “Proposed Business — Our Company and Co-Sponsors” on page 133 for more information.
Currently, there is no public market for our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants. We intend to apply for listing our units on Nasdaq under the symbol “CHECU” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. We expect the Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising the units to begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless BTIG, the representative of the underwriters, informs us of their 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 Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “CHEC” and “CHECW” respectively.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 52 for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
|
Per Unit |
Total |
|||||
|
Public offering price |
$ |
10.00 |
$ |
110,000,000 |
||
|
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) |
$ |
0.60 |
$ |
6,600,000 |
||
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
$ |
9.40 |
$ |
103,400,000 |
||
____________
(1) Includes (a) $0.20 per unit sold in the offering, or $2,200,000 in the aggregate (or $2,530,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of this offering; and (b) up to $0.40 per unit sold in the offering, or up to $4,400,000 in the aggregate (or up to $5,060,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full), payable to the underwriters in this offering based on the percentage of funds remaining in the trust account after redemptions of public shares, for deferred underwriting commissions, which will be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein and released to the underwriters only upon the consummation of an initial business combination. See “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 units described in this prospectus, $110,000,000, or $126,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a trust account in the United States with Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, after deducting $2,200,000 (or $2,530,000 if the overallotment is exercised in full) in underwriting discounts and commissions payable upon the closing of this offering and an aggregate of $1,550,000 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 as described below, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our initial business combination within the completion window or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, subject to applicable law. 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 shareholders.
Commencing on the date on which our securities are listed on Nasdaq, we will pay an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, administrative and shared personnel support services. See “Prospectus Summary — Our Company and Co-Sponsors” on page 2 for more information. Upon consummation of this offering, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by Cayman Sponsor to cover offering-related and
organizational expenses. In the event that following this offering we obtain working capital loans from Cayman Sponsor to finance transaction costs related to our initial business combination, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of Cayman Sponsor.
Because our co-sponsors acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our co-sponsors are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to decline materially” on page 110, “— Risks Relating to our Securities — We may issue additional ordinary shares or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon the conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks” on page 106, “— Our co-sponsors paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from our co-sponsors’ purchase of our Class B ordinary shares” on page 107 and “— Unlike some other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies, our initial shareholders will receive additional Class A ordinary shares if we issue certain shares to consummate an initial business combination” on page 107.
The following table illustrates the difference between the public offering price and our net tangible book value (NTBV), as adjusted to give effect to this offering and to redemptions of our public shares at varying levels, assuming the full exercise and no exercise of the over-allotment option. See “Summary — Dilution” on page 49 and “Dilution” on page 125 for more information.
| As of March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Offering | 25% of Maximum | 50% of Maximum | 75% of Maximum | Maximum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| NTBV | NTBV | Difference | NTBV | Difference | NTBV | Difference | NTBV | Difference | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | ) | $ | | ||||||||
|
| Assuming No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | ) | $ | | ||||||||
Our co-sponsors 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 co-sponsors, executive officers, directors, and non-managing sponsor investors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers, directors and non-managing sponsor investors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Since the non-managing sponsor investors will have interests in the founder shares indirectly through their membership interests in Cayman Sponsor, the non-managing sponsor investors will have the potential to realize enhanced economic returns from their investment as compared to other investors purchasing public units in this offering.
expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our co-sponsors, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Additionally, 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. Following the consummation of a business combination, members of our management team will be entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between members of our management team, our co-sponsors and their affiliates on one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other. See “Summary — Initial Business Combination — Conflicts of Interests between (i) Our Co-Sponsors, Officers, Directors and Other Affiliates and (ii) Our Unaffiliated Shareholders” on page 16, “Summary — The Offering — Conflicts of Interest” on page 30, “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — 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” on page 99, “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — 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” on page 99, “Proposed Business — Our Company and Co-Sponsors” on page 133, “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” on page 144 and “Management and Advisory Board — Conflicts of Interest” on page 174.
CBC Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor and Delaware Sponsor (“CBC Securities”), is acting as a co-manager and one of the underwriters in connection with this offering. As a result, CBC Securities is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. CBC Securities will not confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder. For structuring services provided by CBC Securities in connection with this offering, we have agreed to pay CBC Securities a $50,000 fee. CBC Securities will also receive an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
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 ______, 2025.
We are a holding company with no material operations of our own. Our co-sponsors and most of our executive officers and directors have ties to, and/or are based in, Hong Kong and/or the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”). Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Kwan Sun, our independent director nominee, holds Australian citizenship and resides in the United States. We face various legal and operational risks associated with our ties to Hong Kong and/or China. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time through our directors and officers who have ties in China. The Chinese government may have potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our and directors’ and officers’ search for a target company. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the Chinese government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate and may limit or completely undermine our ability to search for a target company. The Chinese government has indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, and initiated various regulatory actions and made various public statements, some of which are published with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. These recently enacted measures,
and additional pending or future new measures which may be implemented, could materially and adversely affect our operations following our initial public offering and the operations of any post-business combination company. While our officers and directors are not required to obtain permissions or approvals from the Chinese government authorities to search for a target company, the Chinese government has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a China-based company to conduct its business, make or accept foreign investments or list on a U.S. stock exchange. For example, if we enter into a business combination with a target business primarily operating in China (a “PRC Target Company”), the combined company may face risks associated with regulatory approvals of the proposed business combination between us and the target, offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, cybersecurity and data privacy. The PRC government may also intervene with or influence the combined company’s operations at any time as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. These risks could result in a material change in our operations, our search for a target company and/or the value of the securities that we are registering for sale or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Although we do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction, our initial business combination target company may include a company located in the PRC. If our target company is a PRC Target Company, we will be subject to risks in connection with the interpretation and the application of the PRC laws and regulations, as discussed in more detail elsewhere in this prospectus.
For example, if we acquire a PRC Target Company that conducts all or a portion of its business in the PRC through variable interest entities (“VIEs”), following a business combination between us and such target, we would rely on contractual arrangements with the VIE(s) and their subsidiaries for a portion of business operations in the PRC. As a result of the contractual arrangements, holders of our ordinary shares following completion of a business combination would not be holding equity interest in the VIE(s) and their subsidiaries but instead would be holding equity interest in us, whose consolidated financial results include those of the VIE(s) and their subsidiaries under U.S. GAAP, due to us and our wholly foreign-owned enterprise (“WFOE”) being the primary beneficiary of, such entity, for the accounting purposes. More specifically, investors in our securities would not hold any ownership interest, directly or indirectly, in the VIE(s) and their subsidiaries in China and would merely have a contractual relationship with the operating entities in China. We may be subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with VIE’s operations in China if the PRC Target Company requires a VIE structure. PRC laws and regulations governing the PRC Target Company’s current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material change in VIE’s operations, significant depreciation of the value of our ordinary shares, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors. Additionally, the agreements associated with the VIE structure have not been tested in a court of law in any jurisdiction. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using a VIE structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is highly uncertain how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on the PRC Target Company’s daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange. Additionally, as described further elsewhere in this prospectus, if we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC, the laws applicable to such business will likely govern all of our material agreements. We may not be able to enforce our legal rights. There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations which may have a material adverse impact on the value of our securities. If we enter into a business combination with a target business operating in China, cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities, including this offering, may be transferred by us to our PRC subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, as the case may be.
All these risks could result in a material change in our or the PRC Target Company’s post-combination operations and/or the value of our securities or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. In addition, to the extent that a VIE structure is utilized due to restrictions of foreign investment in the target’s industry, the PRC subsidiaries may subsequently provide funds to the VIE through extending loans
subject to statutory limits and restrictions. After the business combination, the combined company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to the shareholders and to service any debt it may incur will depend upon dividends paid by its PRC subsidiaries which are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits of the VIE. Under PRC laws and regulations, PRC companies are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to offshore entities. In particular, under the current PRC laws and regulations, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits. Distributable profits are the net profit as determined under Chinese accounting standards and regulations, less any recovery of accumulated losses and appropriations to statutory and other reserves required to be made. A PRC company is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year to fund certain statutory reserve funds (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital). As a result, the combined company’s PRC subsidiaries may not have sufficient distributable profits to pay dividends to the combined company. In the future, subsequent to our initial business combination, should our PRC Target Company require a VIE structure, cash is transferred through our organization in the manner as follows: (i) the holding company may transfer funds to its subsidiaries, or intermediate holding companies, via additional capital contributions or shareholder loans, as the case may be; (ii) the intermediate holding companies may provide loans to the VIE, subject to statutory limits and restrictions; (iii) funds from the VIE to the intermediate holding companies are remitted as services fees; and (iv) the intermediate holding companies may make dividends or other distributions to the holding company. As of the date of this prospectus, since we have not identified any target for an initial business combination, we have not made any dividends or distributions to our shareholders arising from any VIE structure or agreement.
To the extent that a VIE structure is utilized due to restrictions of foreign investment in the target’s industry, the PRC subsidiaries may subsequently provide funds to the VIE through extending loans subject to statutory limits and restrictions. After the business combination, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. The combined company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to the shareholders and to service any debt it may incur will depend upon dividends paid by its PRC subsidiaries which are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits of the VIE. Under PRC laws and regulations, PRC companies are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to offshore entities. In particular, under the current PRC laws and regulations, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits. Distributable profits are the net profit as determined under Chinese accounting standards and regulations, less any recovery of accumulated losses and appropriations to statutory and other reserves required to be made.
To the extent that a VIE structure is utilized, cash is transferred through our organization in the manner as follows: (i) the holding company may transfer funds to its subsidiaries, or intermediate holding companies, via additional capital contributions or shareholder loans, as the case may be; (ii) the intermediate holding companies may provide loans to the VIE, subject to statutory limits and restrictions; (iii) funds from the VIE to the intermediate holding companies are remitted as services fees; and (iv) the intermediate holding companies may make dividends or other distributions to the holding company. For more detailed descriptions of how cash will be transferred through the post-combination organization if we acquire a PRC Target Company (including illustrative diagrams showing the related processes), see “Risk Factors — The cash-flow structure of a post-acquisition company based in China poses additional risks including, but not limited to, restrictions on foreign exchange and restrictions on our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors” on page 85.
In addition, if certain procedural requirements are satisfied, the payment in foreign currencies on current account items, including profit distributions and trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, can be made without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) or its local branches. However, where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies, approval from or registration with competent government authorities or its authorized banks is required. The PRC government may take measures at its discretion from time to time to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account or capital account transactions. If the foreign exchange control regulations prevent the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy their foreign currency demands, the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company may not be able to pay dividends or repay loans in foreign currencies to their offshore intermediary holding companies and ultimately to the combined company. We cannot assure you that new regulations or policies will not be promulgated in the future, which may further restrict the remittance of RMB into or out of the PRC. We cannot assure you, in light of the restrictions in place, or any amendment to be made from time to time, that the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company will be able to satisfy their respective payment obligations that are denominated in foreign currencies, including
the remittance of dividends outside of the PRC. For a detailed description of risks associated with restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash after a business combination with a PRC Target Company, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — Exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to acquire a PRC target company and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our initial business combination” on page 95 of this prospectus. To date, we have not pursued an initial business combination, and there have not been any capital contributions or shareholder loans by us to any PRC entities.
Furthermore, as more stringent criteria have been imposed by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) recently, and in particular the SEC’s adoption of amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”) on December 2, 2021, our securities may be prohibited from trading if our auditor cannot be fully inspected. If we decide to consummate our initial business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in PRC, auditors of the combined company and their workpapers may be located in PRC, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the PRC authorities. Therefore, the combined company’s securities may be delisted from a national securities exchange in the United States pursuant to the HFCAA. A termination in the trading our of securities or any restriction on the trading in our securities would be expected to have a negative impact on the Company as well as on the value of our securities. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The PCAOB vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination. On December 29, 2022, the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act was signed into law, which amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchange if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three.
Our auditor, Audit Alliance LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm of our company, is headquartered in Singapore. As of the date of this prospectus, our auditor is not subject to the determinations as to inability to inspect or investigate registered firms completely announced by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. While our auditor is registered with PCAOB and subject to PCAOB inspection, in the event it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely the Company’s auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction, then such lack of inspection could cause trading in the Company’s securities to be prohibited under the HFCAA, and ultimately result in a determination by a securities exchange to delist the Company’s securities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company — Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. In that case, Nasdaq would delist our securities. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections may deprive our investors with the benefits of such inspections” on page 80 of this prospectus.
Due to our co-sponsors and certain of our executive officers and directors having ties to Hong Kong and/or the PRC and risks relating to doing business in Hong Kong and/or the PRC, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based target companies as compared to other special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) that do not have ties to Hong Kong or the PRC, which may therefore limit the pool of acquisition candidates, and make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based, making it more likely for us to consummate a business combination with a target company located in the PRC or Hong Kong. Specifically, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang,
our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Kwan Sun, our independent director nominee, holds Australian citizenship and resides in the United States.
As we do not have any operations in China other than the limited activities relating to preparing for this offering and searching for a business combination opportunity subsequent thereto, we believe that we are not required to obtain any material licenses or approvals. We also believe we are not required to obtain approvals from any PRC government authorities, including the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) or any other government entity, to issue our securities in connection with this offering. However, the relevant PRC government agencies could reach a different conclusion, and we could be required to obtain such approvals in connection with a potential business combination. If we (i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including levying fines, confiscating our income, revoking our business licenses or operating licenses, discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations, requiring us to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring, restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from this offering to finance our business and operations, and taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any or all of the foregoing were to occur, it may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to complete this offering or cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Moreover, we might not be able to complete this offering, list our securities on a U.S. exchange, consummate the initial business combination, or continue to offer securities to investors, which would also materially affect the interests of investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
For more detailed discussions, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries” beginning on page 74 of this prospectus.
Sole Book Running Manager
BTIG
Co-Manager
CBC Securities
________, 2025
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F-1 |
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.
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TRADEMARKS
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 ™ 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.
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SUMMARY
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:
• “amended and restated memorandum and articles of association” refer to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the company which will be adopted prior to the consummation of this offering;
• “Cayman Sponsor” refer to Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company with its principal place of business in Hong Kong;
• “CBC Securities” refer to CBC Securities, Inc., an underwriter for this offering, a FINRA member broker-dealer, and an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor and Delaware Sponsor;
• “Companies Act” refer to the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands as the same may be amended from time to time;
• “completion window” refer to the period following the completion of this offering at the end of which, if we have not completed our initial business combination, 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 (net of permitted withdrawals 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 and as further described herein. The completion window ends (i) 18 months from the closing of this offering; or (ii) such other time period in which we must consummate an initial business combination pursuant to an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association;
• “co-sponsors” refer to Cayman Sponsor and Delaware Sponsor;
• “Delaware Sponsor” refer to Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in Hong Kong;
• “directors” are to our current directors and director nominees;
• “founder shares” are to Class B ordinary shares held by our co-sponsors prior to this offering and the Class A ordinary shares that will be issued upon (i) the automatic conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination or (ii) the conversion at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, in each case as described herein;
• “initial shareholders” are to holders of our founder shares prior to this offering;
• “letter agreement” refers to the agreement to be executed among us, the co-sponsors, and each of our officers and directors on the date that the registration statement is declared effective, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part;
• “management” or our “management team” are to our executive officers and directors;
• “New Chenghe” is to Chenghe Acquisition III Co. from and after the business combination;
• “ordinary shares” are to our Class A ordinary shares and our Class B ordinary shares;
• “permitted withdrawals” mean amounts withdrawn to pay our taxes (excluding U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax), provided that all permitted withdrawals can only be made from interest and not from the principal held in the trust account;
• “private placement shares” are to the Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the private placement units;
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• “private placement units” are to the units issued to our co-sponsors in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, which private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus;
• “private placement warrants” are to the warrants sold as part of the private placement units;
• “public shares” are to our Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
• “public shareholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial shareholders and management team to the extent our initial shareholders and/or members of our management team purchase public shares, provided that each initial shareholder’s and member of our management team’s status as a “public shareholder” will only exist with respect to such public shares;
• “public warrants” are to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
• “sponsor non-managing members” means the three institutional investors (none of which are affiliated with any member of our management or any other investor or BTIG) that have expressed an interest to purchase non-managing membership interests in Delaware Sponsor reflecting interests in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering.
• “warrants” are to our public warrants and private placement warrants; and
• “we,” “us,” “company” or “our company” are to Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company.
Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. Any share dividends described in this prospectus will take effect as a share capitalization as a matter of Cayman Islands law.
General
We are a blank check company newly incorporated as a Cayman corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any potential business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential business combination target. While we may pursue an initial target business in any industry, geography, or sector, we intend to focus our search on growing companies in Asian markets or global companies with a presence or focus in Asia.
Our co-sponsors are affiliated with Chenghe Group Ltd. (“Chenghe Group”), an investment holding company with an advisory practice, and a repeat SPAC sponsor which has backed and led multiple SPAC vehicles from the formation of such vehicles to consummation of their initial business combinations.
Our Company and Co-Sponsors
Our company is led by our CEO and Chairman, Dr. Shibin Wang, and supported by Chairman of the Advisory Board, Richard Li, our CFO, Lyle Wang, and our COO, Houston Li. Mr. Richard Li is the founder of Chenghe Group, and both of Mr. Lyle Wang and Mr. Houston Li serve on Chenghe Group’s investment team. These members of our management played a critical role in the formation, initial public offerings and business combinations of prior SPACs sponsored by Chenghe Group. Chenghe Group is an investment holding company with multiple lines of business, including financial advisory, asset management, private equity investing and other services. Within its advisory practice, Chenghe Group provides a full spectrum of services, including capital raising, financial advisory on mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) and public listing services across a broad range of sectors and companies at different growth stages. Within its Asset Management and Private Equity practice, Chenghe Group is committed to creating value for investors by identifying and investing in visionary management teams and growing companies
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with disruptive innovations. The group’s current major investment areas include green technology, TMT (technology, communications, and media), healthcare, consumer, ecommerce, and other new economic industries. In addition, through its Private Equity practice, Chenghe Group has been actively involved in SPAC investments, sponsoring and leading multiple U.S.-listed SPACs including Chenghe Acquisition Co. (Nasdaq: CHEA), Chenghe Acquisition I Co. (Nasdaq: LATG), and Chenghe Acquisition II Co. (NYSE: CHEB.U).
Chenghe Acquisition Co. consummated its initial public offering in May 2022 and consummated its initial business combination in February 2024 with Taiwan Color Optics, Inc., an optical 3D sensing technology company that is primarily involved in the design, manufacture and sale of laser light source modules and integration chip for various applications including LiDAR sensors, smart headlights, and laser projector light sources, and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market using the ticker “SELX.” Chenghe Acquisition Co. filed a Form 15 on February 26, 2024, de-registering its securities under section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and suspending reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. On July 26, 2023, the holders of 3,062,319 Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares (representing approximately 26.6% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from August 2, 2023, to May 2, 2024. On February 2, 2024, the holders of 4,044,701 Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares (representing approximately 47.9% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition Co. shareholders’ approval of the business combination with Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. As of close of business July 23, 2025, SELX’s share price was $1.18.
In September 2023, the Chenghe Group acquired an existing special purpose acquisition company, LatAmGrowth SPAC, and renamed it Chenghe Acquisition I Co. Chenghe Acquisition I Co. consummated its initial business combination agreement with Femco Steel Technology Co. Ltd. (“FST”) in January 2025. FST primarily designs, manufactures and sells golf shafts under its proprietary brand, KBS, and golf shafts for other global golf club brands and other equipment. FST began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market using the ticker “KBSX.” Chenghe Acquisition I Co. filed a Form 15 on January 27, 2025, de-registering its securities under section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and suspending reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. On April 13, 2023, the holders of 7,399,517 Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares (representing approximately 56.9% of then outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from April 27, 2023, to November 27, 2023. On October 26, 2023, the holders of 1,658,610 Chenghe Acquisition I Co. Class A ordinary shares (representing approximately 29.6% of then outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from October 27, 2023, to January 27, 2024, with the option to extend an additional nine months to October 27, 2024. On October 25, 2024, the holders of 407,442 Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s Class A ordinary shares (representing approximately 10.3% of then outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from October 27, 2024 to November 27, 2024, with the option to extend an additional five months to April 27, 2025. On December 23, 2024, the holders of 1,754,618 Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares (representing approximately 38.2% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co. shareholders’ approval of the business combination with FST. As of close of business on July 23, 2025, KBSX’s share price was $1.72.
Chenghe Acquisition II Co. consummated its initial public offering in June 2024. On September 17, 2024, Chenghe Acquisition II Co. entered into a business combination agreement with Polibeli Group Ltd (“Polibeli”) and Polibeli Merger One Limited (“Merger Sub”). On March 14, 2025, Polibeli filed a Registration Statement on Form F-4. The Registration Statement on Form F-4 was amended on March 28, 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on March 31, 2025. On May 23, 2025, Chenghe Acquisition II Co. held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, and the shareholders approved the business combination agreement, pursuant to which, among other transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Chenghe Acquisition II Co. with Chenghe Acquisition II Co. being the surviving company and as a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Polibeli. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting, as of May 28 2025, the holders of 8,464,243 Chenghe Acquisition II Co. public shares (representing approximately 94.7% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition II Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares. The business combination among Chenghe Acquisition II Co., Polibeli and Merger Sub is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2025, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining closing conditions.
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Cayman Sponsor, our co-sponsor, is a , and Delaware Sponsor, our co-sponsor, is a Delaware limited liability company, both of which were was formed to invest in us. The sole manager of Delaware Sponsor is Cayman Sponsor. The managing member of Cayman Sponsor is Chenghe Group, a British Virgin Islands incorporated company owned by the Chairman of our Advisory Board, Mr. Li. Mr. Li controls the management of Cayman Sponsor, and therefore Delaware Sponsor, including the exercise of voting and investment discretion over the securities of our company held by our co-sponsors. Mr. Li is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. As of the date hereof, other than Mr. Li, no other person has a direct or indirect material interest in either co-sponsor. The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. See “Summary — The Offering — Private Placement Units.” Other than Mr. Li, none of the other members of our co-sponsors will participate in our company’s activities. Because (i) none of the sponsor non-managing members will hold voting interests in our co-sponsors nor have any rights to control Delaware Sponsor or to vote or dispose of any securities held by our co-sponsors, (ii) each of the sponsor non-managing members is an institutional investor that is able to bear the complete risk of loss of the proposed investment in our co-sponsors, and (iii) no individual sponsor non-managing member would indirectly own a significant percentage of any of the securities held by Delaware Sponsor, none of the sponsor non-managing members will have a direct or indirect material economic interest in our co-sponsors.
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our co-sponsors and their 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 co-sponsors or their affiliates:
| Amount of Compensation to be Received | Consideration Paid or to be Paid | |||
| Cayman Sponsor | | $ | ||
| | $ | |||
| $ | Office space, administrative and shared personnel support services | |||
| Up to $ | Repayment of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses | |||
| Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | Expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | |||
| Up to $ | Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination | |||
| Delaware Sponsor | | $ |
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| Amount of Compensation to be Received | Consideration Paid or to be Paid | |||
| | $ | |||
| CBC Securities(6) | $ | Underwriting compensation(5) | ||
| Co-sponsors, officers or director, or our or their affiliates | Finder’s, advisory, consulting or success fees | Payment for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination | ||
| Holders of Class B ordinary shares | Anti-dilution protection upon conversion into Class A ordinary shares at a greater than one-to-one ratio | Issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion |
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(1) Of the Class B ordinary shares, the sponsor non-managing members own, indirectly through the purchase of non-managing membership interests, an aggregate of up to 1,852,000 Class B ordinary shares, which were purchased for $0.006 per share.
(2) The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering.
(3) Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing the non-managing membership interests in Delaware Sponsor reflecting interests in an aggregate of up to 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor.
(4) The Class B ordinary shares and the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the Class B ordinary shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the nominal price of approximately $0.006 per share at which our co-sponsors purchased the Class B ordinary shares and/or the anti-dilution rights of our Class B ordinary shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. Our co-sponsors, directors and officers and their affiliates may receive additional compensation and/or may be issued additional securities in connection with an initial business combination, including securities that may result in material dilution to public shareholders. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination and our co-sponsors are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the trading price of our ordinary shares materially declines”, “— Risks Relating to our Securities — We may issue additional Class A ordinary shares or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon the conversion of the founder shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks”, and “— Our co-sponsors paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from our co-sponsors’ purchase of our Class B ordinary shares”.
(5) The breakdown for the total compensation is as follows: $50,000 for a structuring services fee and an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions.
(6) We may also engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
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Because our co-sponsors acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units. See the section titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination.”
The founder shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder thereof, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares shall convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 25% of the total number of all ordinary shares outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination or any private placement-equivalent units issued to Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us). Our public shareholders may incur material dilution due to such anti-dilution adjustments that result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion.
In addition, in order to facilitate our initial business combination, our co-sponsors may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our founder shares, private placement units or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities.
If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution. This dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the founder shares result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the founder shares at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, the cashless exercise of the private placement warrants would further increase the dilution to our public shareholders.
Pursuant to a letter agreement to be entered with us, each of our co-sponsors, directors and officers has agreed to restrictions on its ability to transfer, assign, or sell the founder shares and private placement units (and the underlying securities), as summarized in the table below.
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Subject Securities |
Expiration Date |
Persons Subject |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions |
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Founder Shares |
Earlier of six months after completion of our initial business combination; or if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing any time after completion of our initial business combination |
Chenghe Investment III Limited Chenghe Investment III LLC Shibin Wang Lyle Wang Houston Li Kwan Sun Qingjian Wang Ningrong Liu |
Transfers permitted (i) to any officer, director, or employee of the Company, including to a family member or affiliate of such officer, director, or employee; (ii) by private sales or transfers, in each case, made in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (iii) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; (iv) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or our co-sponsors’ limited liability company agreements upon |
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Subject Securities |
Expiration Date |
Persons Subject |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions |
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dissolution of our co-sponsors; and (v) in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination |
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Private Placement Units (and Underlying Securities) |
30 days after the completion of |
Same as above |
Same as above |
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Any units, warrants, ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any units ordinary shares, founder shares or warrants |
180 days |
Same as above |
The 180 day lock-up period is pursuant to the underwriting agreement. The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice, other than in the case of the officers and directors, which shall be with notice. Our co-sponsors, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private placement units pursuant to the letter agreement described in the immediately preceding paragraphs |
In addition, pursuant to such letter agreement, for the benefit of BTIG, we, our co-sponsors and our officers and directors have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, charge or grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of BTIG for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, any units, warrants, ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares or 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, ordinary shares, warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares owned, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that we may (1) issue and sell the private placement warrants; (2) issue and sell the additional units to cover our 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 private placement warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and the founder shares; and (4) issue securities in connection with our initial business combination. However, the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture of any founder shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of founder shares to any current or future independent director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director is subject to the terms of the letter agreement, filed herewith, at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). Further, the co-sponsors’ membership interests (including the interests held by the non-managing members) are locked up and not transferable because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers. BTIG 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 founder shares, the private placement shares and the private placement warrants held by our co-sponsors will only be distributed to the members of our co-sponsors (including the sponsor non-managing members with respect to Delaware Sponsor) after consummation of our initial business combination, at which time such sponsor non-managing members would become subject to the applicable transfer restrictions with respect to such securities.
Our letter agreement may be amended without shareholder approval. Such transfer restrictions have been amended in connection with business combinations for certain other special purpose acquisition companies. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to the letter agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to the letter agreement.
While non-managing members will not be a direct party to the letter agreement discussed, as a result of their ownership of membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, they will be bound by the restrictions set forth above with respect to their allocated founder shares, the private placement units and securities underlying the private placement units (including the restriction on transfer of their membership interests because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers). However, the non-managing sponsor investors will not be subject to transfer restrictions or a lock-up agreement on any public units, public Class A ordinary shares or public warrants that they may purchase in this offering or thereafter pursuant to the expressions of interest described below. See “Principal Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units.”
Business Strategy
We intend to capitalize on the experience of our team to identify and acquire one or more growing companies in Asian markets or global businesses with a presence or focus in Asia, that demonstrate a strong potential for expansion and value creation. Leveraging Cayman Sponsor’s affiliate and management team, we have a unique vantage point in assessing deal flow, sourcing proprietary opportunities and potential investment targets through the connectivity of Chenghe Group and our partners. Our management team has extensive experience and deep networks both globally and within the Asia-Pacific region, and we believe we are well positioned to effectively source and evaluate promising investment opportunities that can benefit from the expertise and capabilities of our management team to create long-term shareholder value.
A combination of economic, political, and geopolitical uncertainty, along with restrictive global monetary policies, created a “perfect IPO storm,” pushing Asia-Pacific IPO activity to its lowest level in 11 years. Limited liquidity, challenging valuations, post IPO-underperformance, and weakened confidence led many companies to postpone or reconsider their public offerings, particularly in early 2024. However, cross-border listings increased by 53% year-over-year in 2024, with 87 outbound deals and three inbound listings. Greater China and Singapore continued to lead in the U.S. international listings.
In addition to new and attractive business combination targets continuing to emerge in the region, we believe Asia remains a robust market for new issuances and is primed for an uptick in new issuances in 2025. In 2024, 488 companies went public in Asia-Pacific raising $34.94 billion. Despite the healthy public equity activity within the Asia region, this represented a year over year decline of 35% in a number of companies going public and a 51% fall in primary capital raised. Within the Asia-Pacific IPO sector, financially robust enterprises, supported by private equity and venture capital firms, possess the financial flexibility to delay their listings until market conditions become more favorable. With a focus on realistic pricing and post-IPO performance, we anticipate that many of these well-prepared and public ready companies, which delayed 2024 IPO plans, may choose to pursue a go-public strategy in 2025 or 2026.
Asia is expected to represent approximately 50% of the global GDP and is on track to represent 40% of global consumption by 2040. Much of the growth being seen in the Asian markets is driven directly by the consumer and e-commerce verticals, as consumer income continues to increase, and robust digital ecosystems and infrastructures rise across Asia. The e-commerce and consumer markets have witnessed rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific region over the past decade, and the trend is projected to further continue over the next three to four years. As internet access expands throughout the region, consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping, drawn by its rapid, efficient, and reliable distribution of goods. E-commerce is anticipated to demonstrate consistent growth throughout the forecast period, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”) of 6.39% from 2023 to 2027. The gross merchandise value of E-commerce in this region is projected to rise from $3,855.8 billion in 2022 to $5,108.8 billion by 2027.
There are two main drivers of the growth within the Asia e-commerce and consumer markets. The first is the rapid adoption of digital technologies with increasing internet penetration. Nations across the Asia-Pacific region are experiencing a notable surge in internet users, thereby establishing a broad customer base for online retailers.
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The number of e-commerce buyers in Asia is also projected to increase by approximately 52% from 2023 to 2028, rising from approximately 1.33 billion to 2.03 billion. Specifically, the PRC accounted for 884 million online shoppers in 2023, while the U.S. only had 254 million. The other factor is the growing popularity of the smart homes concept in Asia, with a focus on integrating AI technology and voice control systems. Based on Statista’s estimates, the smart home market in Asia is forecasted to expand at an annual growth rate of 12.12% between 2024 and 2028, resulting in a projected market volume of $95.8 billion by 2028.
• In the next decade, we expect the E-commerce market in the Asia-Pacific region to continue to represent a substantial growth opportunity for businesses given the swiftly growing consumer base in the region. In the PRC alone, there were 1.09 billion internet users at the beginning of 2024, representing a penetration rate of 76.4%. Southeast Asia also stands out as one of the global leaders in rapid digital device adoption, with a particular emphasis on mobile devices driving its internet usage. By 2024, a total of 1.76 billion cellular mobile connections were active in the PRC, equating to 123.4% of the total population.
Our business combination target selection process will leverage our team’s broad and deep network of relationships, unique industry expertise and proven deal-sourcing capabilities to provide us with a strong and differentiated pipeline of potential targets.
Our team’s expertise includes:
• sourcing, structuring, acquiring, and selling businesses;
• investing in businesses globally and enabling them to build and/or grow their business in the Greater China or other Asian markets, applying our unique market, policy, and government insights;
• helping target companies gain access to the Greater China or other Asian markets as well as secure funding from other reputable investors and lenders, managing and operating companies, devising strategic operational initiatives, and identifying, mentoring and recruiting top-notch talent;
• developing and growing companies, both organically and via mergers and acquisitions; and
• fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target management teams; and accessing public and private capital markets to optimize capital structure, including financing businesses and helping companies transition ownership structures.
Immediately following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships within our team to search for a potential target for our initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.
Our Management
Our SPAC leadership team, consisting of Dr. Shibin Wang, Lyle Wang, Houston Li, and Richard Li, has decades of combined investment, transaction, and operational experience. Our team has an extensive track record advising and investing in some of the largest transactions in Asia. Our board is comprised of industry leading investors and entrepreneurs to help bolster our connectivity and value add with potential business combination targets.
Dr. Shibin Wang — CEO and Chairman of the Board
Dr. Shibin Wang has served as our CEO and Chairman since January 2025. Dr. Wang has over 20 years of experience in sales and trading of structured financial products, cross-border financing and other capital market activities. Over such period, his clients or counterparts have included major banks (China Development Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agriculture Bank of China and China Construction Bank), leading organizations (China National Offshore Oil Corporation and GCL-Poly Energy) and leading private equity firms (Hillhouse Capital and Greenwoods Asset Management). Dr. Wang has served as the chairman of the board of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since April 2024 and as its CEO since January 2025. Dr. Wang has served as a co-founder of Hong Kong Digital Asset Ex Ltd. (or “HKbitEX”), a regulated digital asset exchange in Hong Kong dedicated to providing a regulatory-compliant and safe digital asset spot trading and over-the-counter trading services to professional investors in Asia, since December 2018, and has served as the chief business officer and a board
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member of HKbitEX since April 2019. Under Dr. Wang’s leadership, the company was among the first organizations in Asia-Pacific to apply for a virtual asset trading platform license from the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong and was recognized as one of China’s top 50 fintech companies in the “2020 KPMG China Fintech 50.”
Dr. Wang also served as the CEO and director of Chenghe Acquisition Co. from April 2022 to February 2024 and the chairman of the board of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from October 2023 to January 2025. In 2018, Dr. Wang advised the Intelligent Investment Chain Foundation on funding and ecosystem development. The Intelligent Investment Chain Foundation is a decentralized virtual asset management application developed based on Ethereum smart contracts with an ecology including quantitative funds, cross-chain wealth management wallets and media. Dr. Wang’s served Oriental Patron Financial Group as chief marketing officer from 2016 to 2018, during which he led the company’s blockchain initiatives and fintech investments. Under Dr. Wang’s leadership, Oriental Patron made investments in DIDI Chuxing and CarbonX, organized a number of forums with leading institutions as well as established the Renminbi-denominated Fintech/Internet Plus fund, with Renminbi 3 billion of assets under management, in collaboration with Magnetic Capital in Shanghai. Dr. Wang was an executive director and head of China structure solutions at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong from 2010 to 2016. Prior to that, he worked at FICC Goldman Sachs from 2008 to 2010 and at China Development Bank managing a fixed-income portfolio from 2003 to 2008. Dr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in international trading from Dongbei University of Finance & Economics, as well as a Master’s degree in finance and a Ph.D. in economics, both from the Finance Institute of the People’s Bank of China.
Lyle Wang — CFO
Lyle Wang has served as our CFO and a member of our board of directors since December 2024. Mr. Wang has served as the CFO of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since April 2024 and as one of its directors since January 2025. He has also served as a member of Chenghe Group’s investment team since March 2023. Additionally, Mr. Wang served as the CFO of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from June 2024 to January 2025. Mr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University and a master’s degree in finance from The University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining Chenghe Group, Mr. Wang served as a client manager of retail finance department at China Merchants Bank. Mr. Wang has in-depth knowledge of financial products and market analysis.
Houston Li — COO
Houston Li has served as our COO since December 2024. He has served as an Associate of Chenghe Group’s investment team since July 2024 and has served as an Associate at CBC Securities, a co-manager in this offering, since October 2024. Mr. Houston Li obtained a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics-Economics from Brown University. Prior to joining Chenghe Group, Mr. Houston Li served as an executive on the fund placement team at Campbell Lutyens from August 2023 to July 2024 and interned in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley from June 2022 to August 2022. Houston Li is the son of Richard Li, who is the controlling shareholder of Cayman Sponsor, which is also the manager of Delaware Sponsor.
Richard Qi Li — Chairman of the Advisory Board
Richard Qi Li will serve as the Chairman of our Advisory Board and has more than two decades of experience in the financial service industry. Mr. Li is the founder of Chenghe Group and has served as the CEO of HH&L Acquisition Co., Chairman of Chenghe Acquisition Co. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Chenghe Acquisition I Co. Mr. Li currently serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Chenghe Acquisition II Co., the Chairman of Chenghe Capital Management Limited, and as a director for FST Corp. From 2017 to 2021, Mr. Li served as the chief investment officer and chief operating officer of China Great Wall AMC (International) Holdings Company Limited, and from 2018, was the chief executive officer of Great Wall Pan Asia Asset Management Ltd., both subsidiaries of China Great Wall Asset Management Co. Ltd., a leading asset management company based in China. Mr. Li was previously a managing director and the Head of China Securities at Goldman Sachs Asia, and a managing director and the Head of North Asia Capital Markets and Treasury Solutions at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Mr. Li worked at Merrill Lynch, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC.
Mr. Li has worked with or advised many financial institutions in Greater China on capital markets activities, sales and trading of fixed income products and structured equities, investment, risk management, and/or building up trading or asset management platforms. His clients or counterparts have included leading sovereign wealth funds (State
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Administration of Foreign Exchange and China Investment Corporation), large banks (Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Merchants Bank), insurers (China Life, PICC, Ping An Insurance) and asset managers (National Social Security Fund, China Asset Management and Harvest Fund). Mr. Li also advised Shanghai Pudong Development Bank in connection with the formation of a business alliance and the establishment of a credit card joint venture with Citibank in 2002. Mr. Li obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in economics from Nankai University in China and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School. He was also a visiting scholar at Harvard University in 2019.
Kwan Sun — Director Nominee
Kwan Sun founded Millburn Advisory LLC, a real estate fund manager, in 2018 and has served as its managing partner since then. Since April 2024, Mr. Sun has served as a director of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Sun served as the vice chairman of Nan Fung Group’s U.S. businesses to help develop Nan Fung Group’s U.S. real estate business. Mr. Sun served as a director at Deutsche Bank in the structured products department from 1997 to 2003, and as a director at Morgan Stanley in the structured products department from 2003 to 2007. Thereafter, Mr. Sun served as a managing director at Deutsche Bank in the structured products department from 2007 to 2009 and as a managing director at Morgan Stanley in the investment banking department from 2009 to 2014. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank in 1997, he served as a vice president of the capital markets department of Merrill Lynch, where he focused on trading fixed income derivatives. He was employed at Merrill Lynch from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Sun has been a director of Chenghe Acquisition Co. since April 2022, and Chenghe Acquisition Co. subsequently changed its name to Semilux International Ltd after its business combination in February 2024. Mr. Sun has been a director of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since June 2024. Mr. Sun served as a director of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from October 2023 to January 2025. Mr. Sun graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. We believe Mr. Sun is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive and relevant business experience across a range of positions, markets, and fields.
Qingjian Wang — Director Nominee
Qingjian Wang has served as a partner at Haiwen & Partners LLP since 2018 and has served as its managing partner since February 2022. In addition, Mr. Wang has served as the sole director of Jabez Capital Limited since June 2020. Mr. Wang has nearly 20 years of legal experience, focusing on investment funds, private equity, and venture capital investments. Before joining Haiwen & Partners LLP, he practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton from 2016 to 2018 and at O’Melveny & Myers from 2004 to 2016. Mr. Wang earned an LLB degree from Shanghai Fudan University in 2004 and an LLM degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2009. He is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong and New York and has passed the PRC bar examination. We believe Mr. Wang is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive legal expertise spanning Hong Kong, the United States, and the PRC, particularly in investment funds, private equity, and venture capital investments. His experience in navigating complex cross-border legal and compliance matters will provide valuable insights and strategic guidance to the company.
Ningrong Liu — Director Nominee
Ningrong Liu has served as an Associate Vice President at The University of Hong Kong since September 2022. Additionally, Mr. Liu has served as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong since September 2000 and began serving as a Professor in September 2022. Since July 2010, Mr. Liu has served as a Director at the Institute for China Business at the University of Hong Kong. From July 2015 to August 2022, Mr. Liu served as the Deputy Director of Business and China at The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education. From February 2010 to July 2015, Mr. Liu served as an Associate Director at The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education. Mr. Liu served as an Assistant Director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong from April 2000 to September 2000. Mr. Liu earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language & Literature from Nankai University in 1984, a Master of Communications from Indiana University Bloomington in 1995, and a Doctor of Education in Education Management from the University of Bristol in 2007. We believe Mr. Liu is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive academic and leadership experience, including over two decades of service at The University of Hong Kong in various senior roles, and his broad expertise in education management, business, and communications.
With respect to the foregoing experiences of our management, Cayman Sponsor and Chenghe Group, past performance is not a guarantee (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely
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on the historical record of our management’s, Cayman Sponsor’s or Chenghe Group’s performance as indicative of our future performance. For more information on the experience and background of our management team and the Advisory Board, see below and the sections entitled “Management and Advisory Board” and “Proposed Business.”
Competitive Strengths
We believe that through the networks and relationships of our management and board, along with the financial and deal expertise, and the sourcing, valuation, diligence and execution capabilities of our leadership team and Chenghe Group, we will have a significant pipeline of differentiated opportunities which are ready to go public.
Our competitive strengths include:
• Leading Industry Insights and Proprietary Sourcing Channels. We believe our team’s global insights and experience will allow us to identify suitable public ready companies with solid fundamentals that are primed for growth and multiple expansion. Our team’s extensive sector and transaction experience as well as our other corporate relationships have helped us develop a broad array of contacts with both potential DeSPAC targets and strategic investors. In addition, through Cayman Sponsor’s affiliate, Chenghe Group, we will have unique access to a proprietary pipeline of acquisition opportunities in Asia through our active advisory and investment businesses. We believe that these factors will give us an edge over other market participants in terms of sourcing targets for our initial business combination.
• Deep Geographic Connectivity and Expertise. Our management team has deep connectivity and strategic relationships within the broader Asian market opportunity set and poised to identify and the blue chip targets ready to publicly list on the U.S. markets, as well as unique access to global capital through non-U.S. investor relationships.
• Demonstrated track records in SPAC Transactions. Chenghe Group and our SPAC management team have had success shepherding multiple companies through a DeSPAC process to the U.S. public markets. Our team’s experience and ability to enter into and close transactions, while also successfully raising capital amidst a challenged new issuance backdrop will be an attractive value add for top targets assessing potential SPAC partners.
• Investment Experience. We believe that our team’s track record of identifying, sourcing and advising on transactions positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential business combinations that have a strong potential to be well received by the public markets.
• Execution and Deal Structuring Capability. We believe that our team’s combined expertise and reputation will allow us to source and complete transactions possessing structural attributes that create an attractive investment thesis. These types of transactions are typically complex and require creativity, industry knowledge and expertise, rigorous due diligence, and extensive negotiations and documentation. We believe that by focusing our investment activities on these types of transactions, we will be able to generate investment opportunities that have attractive risk-reward profiles.
• Long-term Value and Strategic Partnership. We believe that our team can create long-term value by collaborating with target management teams, forming strategic partnerships, and enhancing performance.
Business Combination Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general and non-exclusive criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating initial business combination opportunities, although we may enter into our initial business combination with target business or businesses that do not strictly meet any or all of these criteria and guidelines.
• Exceptional Management Teams. We will be focusing on seasoned blue-chip management teams comprised of industry leaders which are public ready and have demonstrated a history of driving growth for the company and delivering on operational and financial metrics for investors. To the extent we believe it will enhance shareholder value, we would seek to selectively supplement the existing management team of the business with proven leaders and executives from our network.
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• Capabilities to leverage the compelling market trends in Asian markets. We will target one or more businesses that have gained sustainable competitive advantages, demonstrated potential for strong growth in the future, and have significant opportunities in and/or synergies with Asian markets. We believe this approach will enable us to effectively leverage our strong network to identify attractive opportunities and that the larger market capitalization and public float of the resulting company will be more attractive to our investors.
• Large addressable market and high growth prospects. We intend to focus on companies with fundamentally sound business models today, that operate in a large underlying addressable market with strong tail winds that we believe will support significant growth and superior returns over time. This would include companies with embedded or underexploited growth opportunities or those that may benefit from capital infusion to execute on from synergistic add-on acquisitions, increased production capacity, expense reductions, technology upgrades and increased operating leverage.
• Resilient financial profiles. We will prioritize companies that are appropriately capitalized today, and in a strong liquidity position to continue to operate the business. Capital infusions tied to the business combination would look to augment operational metrics and growth.
• Potential to further improve with expertise and partnership. Our management team has a history of accelerating growth of companies with strong historical performance. We believe our team’s experience in our target sectors and network of industry contacts have the potential to generate opportunities to enhance the financial and operational efficiencies of the target businesses, through identifiable catalysts that could transform the value of these investments, and potentially offer an attractive return for our shareholders.
• Targets which are public ready and would benefit from access to the public capital markets. We intend to seek targets that have robust corporate governance, with existing reporting polices that would exemplify preparedness for the scrutiny of public markets, and that would benefit from being a public company with an increased public profile, and increased access to a more diversified pool of capital.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. We will also utilize our operational and capital allocation experience. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors, and criteria that our management may deem relevant. 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.
Potential Additional Financing
Should we seek to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of the business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution and these securities could have rights that rank senior to our public shares. If we raise additional funds through the incurrence of indebtedness, such indebtedness would have rights that are senior to our equity securities and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. Further, as described above, due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares, our public shareholders may incur material dilution. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. 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
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complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets
Our robust pipeline of business combination targets will be fueled by the extensive connectivity, networks, and relationships cultivated by our seasoned management team, board of directors, Cayman Sponsor’s affiliate Chenghe Group, and lead underwriter and advisor BTIG. Our team’s sourcing activities are driven by access to high-quality deal flow from our internal networks, strategic partners, and trusted advisors, all of which are rigorously evaluated against our stringent acquisition criteria. Leveraging our team’s collective technical, operational, and transactional expertise, we will meticulously identify and assess acquisition targets poised to deliver substantial value to our shareholders through our initial business combination.
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and operations from outside the United States, and a majority of our assets will be located within the United States immediately after this offering. Our corporate affairs will be governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under the law of the Cayman Islands are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. Additionally, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Because of such ties of our officers and directors to mainland China or Hong Kong, we may be governed by PRC laws and regulations. For the risks related thereto, please see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — Given that most of our directors and officers have ties to mainland China and/or Hong Kong, the Chinese government may exercise oversight and discretion over their conduct including their search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas by and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business, the PRC Target Company’s business operations post-business combination and/or the value of the securities we are registering.”
In addition, we may seek to acquire a company that is based in mainland China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination. Public shareholders may find it more difficult to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on individual directors and executive officers, and may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” for additional information. For additional risks related to acquiring and operating a business in China, see, e.g., “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us.”
Due to (i) the legal and regulatory risks associated with being based in Hong Kong, and (ii) our co-sponsors and most of our executive officers and/or directors having ties to PRC or Hong Kong, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based SPAC, which may therefore limit the pool of acquisition candidates, and make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based. See “Risk Factors — General Risk Factors — 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” for additional information. Specifically, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our
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Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Kwan Sun, our independent director nominee, holds Australian citizenship and resides in the United States.
Our Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
We have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. From the period commencing with our formation through the date of this prospectus, there have been no communications or discussions between any of our officers, directors or our co-sponsors and any of their potential contacts or relationships regarding a potential initial business combination. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, to conduct any research or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business. 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 impact a target business.
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 (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes paid or payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of execution of the definitive agreement for such business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. 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 or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions 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 shareholders 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 shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 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 shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests 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 shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business
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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% fair market value test described above. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we will have until 18 months from the closing of this offering, or until such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, to complete an initial business combination. However, we may hold a shareholder vote at any time to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination (as well as 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 the time periods described herein or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity). As described herein, our initial shareholders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed that they will not propose any such amendment unless we provide our public shareholders 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein.
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.
Sourcing of Potential Initial Business Combination Targets
We believe our management team is well positioned to identify unique opportunities across the private company landscape, particularly growth companies in Asian markets or global firms with Asian presence. Our selection process will leverage our relationships with leading private company founders, executives of private and public companies, venture capitalists, private equity and growth equity funds.
We have not contacted any of the prospective target businesses that Chenghe Acquisition Co., Chenghe Acquisition I Co., or Chenghe Acquisition II Co. had considered and rejected as a target business to acquire. However, we may contact such targets subsequent to the closing of this offering if we become aware that such targets are interested in a potential initial business combination with us and such transaction would be attractive to our shareholders. 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.
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. Any such payments prior to our initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account, including permitted withdrawals.
Conflicts of Interests between (i) Our Co-Sponsors, Officers, Directors and Other Affiliates and (ii) Our Unaffiliated Shareholders
We are not prohibited from paying any fees (such as advisory fees), reimbursements or cash payments to our co-sponsors, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, including the following payments, all of which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from (i) funds held outside the trust account or (ii) permitted withdrawals:
• Repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by Cayman Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
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• Payment to Cayman Sponsor of $15,000 per month, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees;
• Reimbursement for any out of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;
• Payment of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination;
• Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans; and
• $52,000 payment to CBC Securities in underwriting compensation. This includes a $50,000 structuring services fee and an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions; and
• We may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services to us in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, executive officers or directors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our co-sponsors, executive officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions stating that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view and a majority of our disinterested and independent directors approve such transaction.
Certain members of our management team (including our independent directors) may directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement units 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 co-sponsors and/or our 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 shareholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, the founder shares and private placement units may expire worthless, except to the extent the holders thereof receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our co-sponsors and our executive officers and directors to complete any transaction, regardless of its ultimate value.
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.
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. For a summary of the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations, see “Management and Advisory Board — Conflicts of Interest.” 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
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his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us, and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. We do not believe, however, 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 co-sponsors 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. In particular, certain members of our management team have served and/or currently serve as officers and directors of other SPACs. As a result, our co-sponsors, officers, and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other blank check company with which they may become involved. Members of our management team have complete discretion, subject to applicable fiduciary duties, as to which blank check company they choose to pursue a business combination and the order in which they pursue business combinations for any of their existing or future blank check companies. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination.
However, particularly considering that other SPACs of which members of our management have served as officers or directors have either consummated their business combinations or entered into a definitive agreement in relation thereto, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Corporate Information
Our executive offices are located at 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore, 189767 and our telephone number is (65) 9851 8611. We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act. As an exempted company, we may apply for a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act 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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
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We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A ordinary shares 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 ordinary shares 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 ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.
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.
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THE OFFERING
In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
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Securities offered |
11,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of: • one Class A ordinary share; and • one-half of one redeemable warrant. |
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Nasdaq symbols |
Units: “CHECU” Class A ordinary share: “CHEC” Warrants: “CHECW” |
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Trading commencement and separation of Class A ordinary shares and warrants |
Separate trading of the Class A ordinary shares and warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K. In no event will the Class A ordinary shares and warrants 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, including, if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option simultaneously with the initial closing, the proceeds of the over-allotment. 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. |
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Units: |
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Number outstanding before this offering |
0 |
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Number outstanding after this offering |
11,375,000(1) |
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Ordinary Shares: |
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Number outstanding before this offering |
4,216,667(2)(3) |
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Number outstanding after this offering |
15,041,667(1)(3)(4) |
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Warrants: |
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Number of warrants outstanding before this offering |
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Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering and the private placement |
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Exercisability |
Each whole warrant offered in this offering is exercisable to purchase one Class A ordinary share. Only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. We structured each unit to contain one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A ordinary share, as compared to units issued by some other similar special purpose acquisition companies which contain whole warrants exercisable for one whole share, in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination as compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive business combination partner for target businesses. |
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(1) Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture of 550,000 founder shares by our initial shareholders for no consideration and includes 375,000 shares underlying the private placement units.
(2) Includes up to 550,000 founder shares that will be forfeited by our initial shareholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(3) Founder shares are currently classified as Class B ordinary shares, which shares (unless otherwise provided in our initial business combination agreement) will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights.”
(4) Includes 11,000,000 public shares, 3,666,667 founder shares and 375,000 private placement shares.
(5) Includes 5,500,000 public warrants and 187,500 private placement warrants underlying the private placement units.
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Exercise price |
$11.50 per share, subject to adjustments as described herein. In addition, if (x) we issue additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our initial shareholders or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination, and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Class A ordinary shares during the 10 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under “Redemption of warrants for cash” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. |
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Exercise period |
The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; provided that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available 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 (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement). If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. We are registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part because the warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, which may be within one year of this offering. However, because the warrants will be exercisable until their expiration date of up to five years after the completion of our initial business combination, in order to comply with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act following the consummation of our initial business combination, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement with the SEC and have an effective registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration |
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statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. |
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Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that the private placement warrants issued to the underwriters will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in this offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account. |
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Redemption of warrants for cash |
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants for cash: • in whole and not in part; • upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and • at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, and only if, the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and for certain issuances of Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination as described elsewhere in this prospectus) on each of 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. We will not redeem the warrants for cash unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. |
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Cashless exercise |
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our shareholders of issuing the maximum number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Class A ordinary shares (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” will mean the average reported closing price of the Class A ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. Please see “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Shareholders’ Warrants” for additional information. |
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Founder shares |
On December 5, 2024, Cayman Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain expenses on our behalf in consideration of 4,312,500 founder shares for a purchase price of approximately $0.006 per share. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by Cayman 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 12,650,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent approximately 25% of the outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares). Up to 550,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised. The founder shares are identical to the Class A ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering, except that: • only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination and on a vote to continue our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands; • the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; • the founder shares are entitled to registration rights; |
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• our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, 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, private placement securities 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, private placement securities and public shares they hold in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and private placement securities they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window). • If we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote their founder shares, private placement securities and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination (subject to the limitations described in this prospectus). As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares and private placement securities, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a greater majority than an ordinary resolution). Assuming that the holders of only one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are present in person or by proxy, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and all such shares held by our initial shareholders are voted, we would not need any of the 11,000,000 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 overallotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a higher threshold than an ordinary resolution); |
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• the founder shares are automatically convertible into our Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, or to the terms of our initial business combination agreement, in each case as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights.”; and • the sponsor non-managing members are not granted any shareholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to our other public shareholders, and will only be issued membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, with no right to control Delaware Sponsor or vote or dispose of any securities held by Delaware Sponsor, including the founder shares and the private placement units or the underlying securities held by Delaware Sponsor. The sponsor non-managing members are not required to (i) hold any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants they may purchase in this offering or thereafter for any amount of time, or enter into a lock-up agreement with us or the underwriters with respect to any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants, (ii) vote any Class A ordinary shares they may own at the applicable time in favor of our initial business combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their public shares at the time of our initial business combination. The sponsor non-managing members will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the units they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public shareholders. However, if the sponsor non-managing members purchase all of the units for which they have expressed to us an interest in purchasing or otherwise hold a substantial number of our units, then the sponsor non-managing members will potentially have different interests than our other public shareholders in approving our initial business combination and otherwise exercising their rights as public shareholders because of their indirect ownership of founder shares and private placement units as further discussed in this prospectus. |
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The interests of the members of Delaware Sponsor are denominated in two classes of membership interest units: (i) class A membership units representing interests in the founder shares and (ii) class B membership units that will represent an interest in the private placement units. All members of Delaware Sponsor and any sponsor non-managing member that may join Delaware Sponsor concurrently with this offering will hold both classes of membership units representing their proportional interest in the founder shares and private placement units, respectively. Pursuant to an agreement of all members of Delaware Sponsor, the management and control of Delaware Sponsor is vested exclusively with its manager, Cayman Sponsor, without any voting, veto, consent or other participation rights by any non-managing members regardless of their unit ownership. The managing member of Cayman Sponsor is Chenghe Group, a British Virgin Islands incorporated company owned by the Chairman of our Advisory Board, Mr. Li. |
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Mr. Li controls the management of Cayman Sponsor, and therefore Delaware Sponsor. Mr. Li is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. All matters submitted to a vote by the manager will require the affirmative vote of the class A membership units held only by the manager, without regard to any membership interests held by any non-managing members. As a result, sponsor non-managing members will have no right to control Delaware Sponsor, or participate in any decision regarding the disposal of any security held by Delaware Sponsor, or otherwise. |
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Transfer restrictions on founder shares |
Our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion thereof until the earlier to occur of: (i) six months after the completion of our initial business combination or (ii) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property; except to certain permitted transferees and under certain circumstances as described herein under “Principal Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units”. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. |
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Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights |
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Appointment of directors; voting |
Holders of record of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by such shareholders; provided that holders of our Class B ordinary shares will have the right to elect and remove all of our directors prior to our initial business combination and holders of our Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on the election or removal of directors during such time. Unless specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or as required by the Companies Act or stock exchange rules, an ordinary resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, is generally required to approve any matter voted on by our shareholders. Approval of certain actions require a special resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, and pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, such actions include amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors, meaning, following our initial business combination, the holders of more than 50% of our ordinary shares which vote for the appointment of directors can appoint all of the directors. Only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time. This provision of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to the rights of holders of Class B ordinary shares to appoint directors may be amended by a special resolution passed by at least 90% of such members as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting or by way of unanimous written resolution. In addition, only the Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote to continue our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by law, holders of the founder shares and holders of our public shares will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote. If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive an ordinary resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution. In such case, our co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination (except that any public shares such parties may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the proposed business combination). As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised). |
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Private placement units and underlying securities |
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The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing, through Delaware Sponsor, the private placement units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, Delaware Sponsor will issue non-managing membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the sponsor non-managing members reflecting interests in an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor. |
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Our co-sponsors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their private placement shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their private placement shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to 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 shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their private placement shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window. In addition, our co-sponsors have agreed to vote any private placement shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. |
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Transfer restrictions on private placement units |
The private placement units to be purchased by the underwriters and/or their permitted designees, are deemed underwriters’ compensation by FINRA and are subject to limitations in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110. |
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Conflicts of Interest |
Certain members of our management team may have potential conflicts of interest as identified below: • Members of our management team (including our independent directors) may directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement units 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 the members of our management team paid for the founder shares could result in a scenario where they stand to gain or lose financially, depending on the post-business combination performance of the acquisition target they select. Our directors and officers could potentially secure a substantial return even if the value of the acquisition target declines, affecting the profitability for public investors. • In the event we do not consummate a business combination within the completion window, the founder shares, private placement units and their underlying securities will expire worthless, which could create an incentive our officers and directors to complete any transaction, regardless of its ultimate value. • 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. |
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• Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. • Our co-sponsors, officers and directors may in the future 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. • Our officers, directors, shareholders or affiliates may be paid fees upon the successful completion of our initial business combination as described under “Payments to Insiders”, below. • Our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including selecting a business combination target and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Risk Factors — Our 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.” • CBC Securities, an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor and Delaware Sponsor is acting as a co-manager and one of the underwriters in connection with this offering. As a result, CBC Securities is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. CBC Securities will not confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder. For structuring services provided by CBC Securities in connection with this offering, we have agreed to pay CBC Securities a $50,000 fee. CBC Securities will also receive an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities. |
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• BTIG, as the representative to the underwriters, and the underwriters are also entitled to receive deferred underwriting commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The underwriters’ or their respective 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. The underwriters are under no obligation to provide any further services to us in order to receive all or any part of the deferred underwriting commissions. See “Risk Factors — We may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective 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 deferred underwriting commissions that will be released from the trust account only upon a 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.” |
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Proceeds to be held in trust account |
Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units be deposited in a trust account. Of the proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement units described in this prospectus, $110,000,000 or $126,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a segregated trust account located in the United States with Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, after deducting $2,200,000 (or $2,530,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in underwriting discounts and commissions payable upon the closing of this offering and an aggregate of $1,550,000 to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following the closing of this offering. The proceeds to be placed in the trust account include up to $4,400,000 (or up to $5,060,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions. |
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Except with respect to permitted withdrawals, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units 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 the completion window, subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ 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 shareholders. |
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Expression of Interest |
The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing, through Delaware Sponsor, the private placement units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, Delaware Sponsor will issue non-managing membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the sponsor non-managing members reflecting interests in an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor. |
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The sponsor non-managing members are not granted any shareholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to our other public shareholders, and will only be issued membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, with no right to control Delaware Sponsor or vote or dispose of any securities held by Delaware Sponsor, including the founder shares and the private placement units held by Delaware Sponsor. Additionally, the sole manager of Delaware Sponsor is Cayman Sponsor. The managing member of Cayman Sponsor is Chenghe Group, a British Virgin Islands incorporated company owned by the Chairman of our Advisory Board, Mr. Li. Mr. Li controls the management of Cayman Sponsor, and therefore Delaware Sponsor. Mr. Li is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Further, the sponsor non-managing members are not required to (i) hold any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants they may purchase in this offering or thereafter for any amount of time, or enter into a lock-up agreement with us or the underwriters with respect to any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants, (ii) vote any Class A ordinary shares they may own at the applicable time in favor of our initial business combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their public shares at the time of our initial business combination. The sponsor non-managing members will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the units they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public shareholders. |
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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 permitted withdrawals and/or to redeem our public shares in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, 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, and (no later than 18 months after the closing of this offering) will be held as cash or cash items, including in demand deposit accounts. |
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Additionally, when we determine (no later than 18 months after the closing of this offering) to hold the funds in the trust account as cash or in demand deposit accounts, the amount of interest we may receive would likely be less than this amount. Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from: • permitted withdrawals; • the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units not held in the trust account, which initially will be approximately $920,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $630,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and • any working capital loans or additional investments from Cayman 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 placement units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, at the option of the lender. |
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Possible need for additional financing |
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. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution and these securities could have rights that rank senior to our public shares. If we raise additional funds through the incurrence of indebtedness, such indebtedness would have rights that are senior to our equity securities and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. Further, as described above, due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares, our public shareholders may incur material dilution. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy redemptions by public shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or |
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other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations. |
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Ability to extend time to complete an initial business combination |
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Conditions to completing our initial business combination |
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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 shareholders 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, shares or other equity interests 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 shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% fair market value test described above, provided that in the event that the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% fair market value 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 shareholder approval or conducting a tender offer, as applicable. |
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Permitted purchases of public shares and public warrants by our affiliates |
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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, or to reduce the number of shares being submitted for redemption. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants 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 Class A ordinary shares or warrants 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 shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination |
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Manner of conducting redemptions |
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) without a shareholder vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder 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 shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require shareholder approval while direct mergers with our company (other than with a 90% subsidiary of ours) and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares or seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would require shareholder approval. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with Nasdaq’s shareholder approval rules. |
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The requirement that we provide our public shareholders 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 memorandum and articles of association 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 a special resolution of our shareholders, which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution. |
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If we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with a general 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 shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive the approval of an ordinary resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution. In accordance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a quorum for such meeting will be present if the holders of at least one-third of our issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting are represented in person or by proxy. Our initial shareholders will count toward this quorum and, pursuant to the letter agreement, our co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination (except that any public shares such parties may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the proposed business combination). For purposes of seeking approval of an ordinary resolution, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a greater majority than an ordinary resolution). Assuming that the holders of only one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are present in person or by proxy, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and all such shares held by our initial shareholders are voted, we would not need any of the 11,000,000 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 overallotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a higher threshold than an ordinary resolution). These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial |
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business combination. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction or whether they were a public shareholder on the record date for the general meeting held to approve the proposed transaction. |
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If a shareholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a shareholder 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 shareholders not tendering more than the number of shares we are permitted to redeem. If public shareholders 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 co-sponsors will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase our Class A ordinary shares 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 shareholders 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 share certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer (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 scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a shareholder vote, we intend to require a public shareholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the scheduled 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 shareholders 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 shareholders, which could delay |
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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 shareholders who elected to redeem their shares. |
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In addition, 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 Class A ordinary shares 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, and all Class A ordinary shares 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 shareholders holding 20% or more of the shares sold in this offering if we hold shareholder vote |
We believe the restriction described above will discourage shareholders 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. By limiting our shareholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 20% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of shareholders 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 shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those shareholders that hold more than 20% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination. |
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Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination |
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Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination |
Our initial shareholders 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 the completion window. However, if our initial shareholders 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 completion window. |
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The underwriters have agreed to waive all rights to the deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares. Our co-sponsors, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals), 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 shareholder approval of such proposal, and in connection therewith, provide our public shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon shareholder approval of such amendment. |
||
|
Payments to insiders |
We are not prohibited from paying any fees (including advisory fees), reimbursements or cash payments to our co-sponsors, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, including the following payments, all of which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from (i) funds held outside the trust account or (ii) permitted withdrawals: • Repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by Cayman Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses; • Payment to Cayman Sponsor of $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; • Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating, negotiating and completing an initial business combination; • Payment of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination; |
42
|
• Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per units at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans; • Payment to CBC Securities for structuring services provided by CBC Securities in connection with this offering for a $50,000 fee; and • We may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services to us in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. |
||
|
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 co-sponsors, 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 and Advisory Board — Committees of the Board of Directors — Audit Committee.” |
|
|
Indemnity |
Our co-sponsors have agreed that they 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 permitted withdrawals, 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 co-sponsors to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our co-sponsors have sufficient funds to satisfy their indemnity obligations and we believe that our co-sponsors’ only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our co-sponsors would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. |
43
SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.
|
March 31, 2025 |
||||||||
|
Actual |
As Adjusted |
|||||||
|
Balance Sheet Data: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Working (deficit) capital(1) |
$ |
(357,935 |
) |
$ |
776,276 |
|
||
|
Total assets(2) |
$ |
355,711 |
|
$ |
110,892,776 |
|
||
|
Total liabilities(3) |
$ |
382,935 |
|
$ |
4,516,500 |
|
||
|
Value of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption(4) |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
110,000,000 |
|
||
|
Shareholder’s deficit(5) |
$ |
(27,224 |
) |
$ |
(3,623,724 |
) |
||
____________
(1) The “as adjusted” calculation includes $920,000 of cash held outside the trust account, plus $27,224 of actual shareholders’ deficit as of March 31, 2025, less over-allotment liability of $116,500.
(2) The “as adjusted” calculation equals $110,000,000 of cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, plus $920,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $27,224 of actual shareholders’ deficit as of March 31, 2025.
(3) The “as adjusted” calculation equals $4,400,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised, plus $116,500 of over-allotment liability.
(4) The “as adjusted” amount includes all public shares included in the units sold in this offering, assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised at $10.00 per share.
(5) Excludes 11,000,000 ordinary shares purchased in the public market which are subject to conversion in connection with our initial business combination. The “as adjusted” calculation equals the “as adjusted” total assets, less the “as adjusted” total liabilities, less the value of ordinary shares that may be converted in connection with our initial business combination ($10.00 per share).
If no business combination is completed within the completion window, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us for permitted withdrawals (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares. Our initial shareholders, officers and directors have entered into letter agreements with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such time period.
44
SUMMARY OF RISK FACTORS
We are a blank check company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues to date. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, 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.
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in the section titled “Risk Factors,” alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
• 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.
• Our shareholders 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 shareholders do not support such a combination.
• Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
• If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders and management team have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
• The redemption of our public shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into an initial business combination with a target.
• The redemption of a large number of our public shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
• We may decide not to extend the term we have to consummate our initial business combination, in which case we would redeem our public shares, and the warrants will be worthless.
• The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the completion window may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating an initial 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 shareholders.
• Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
• If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or public warrants from public shareholders, which may increase the likelihood of completing a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares.
45
• If a shareholder 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 submitting or tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
• 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 warrants, potentially at a loss.
• 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.
• The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares resulting in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination.
• The value of the founder shares following completion of our initial business combination as likely being substantially higher than the nominal price paid for them, even if the trading price of our public shares at such time is substantially less than $10.00 per share.
• As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets or such attractive targets may not be interested to consume an initial business combination with a SPAC due to a negative public perception of mergers involving SPACs. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
• If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible a U.S. federal stock buyback excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with any redemptions of our Class A ordinary shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.
• 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 have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on our redemption of their shares, and our warrants will expire worthless.
• 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.
• Unlike some other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies, our initial shareholders will receive additional Class A ordinary shares if we issue certain shares to consummate an initial business combination.
• We may reincorporate in or transfer by way of continuation to another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on shareholders or warrant holders.
• Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us. For detailed risk factor disclosure, see page 80 of this prospectus.
• Given that most of our directors and officers have ties to mainland China and/or Hong Kong, the Chinese government may exercise oversight and discretion over their conduct including their search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas by and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business, the PRC Target Company’s business operations post-business combination and/or the value of the securities we are registering. For detailed risk factor disclosure, see page 78 of this prospectus.
46
• China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business. For detailed risk factor disclosure, see pages 77 of this prospectus.
• Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Permissions and Approvals from Chinese Authorities
As we do not have any operations in China other than the limited activities relating to preparing for this offering and searching for a business combination opportunity subsequent thereto, we believe that neither we nor our officers or directors are required to obtain any material licenses or approvals. We also believe neither we nor our officers or directors are required to obtain approvals from any PRC government authorities, including the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) or any other government entity, to issue our securities in connection with this offering. However, the relevant PRC government agencies could reach a different conclusion, and we could be required to obtain such approvals in connection with a potential business combination. If we (i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including levying fines, confiscating our income, revoking our business licenses or operating licenses, discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations, requiring us to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring, restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from this offering to finance our business and operations, and taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any or all of the foregoing were to occur, it may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to complete this offering or cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Moreover, we might not be able to complete this offering, list our securities on a U.S. exchange, consummate the initial business combination, or continue to offer securities to investors, which would also materially affect the interests of investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Cash Transfer Restrictions relating to Initial Business Combination with a PRC Target Company
While our officers and directors are not required to obtain permissions or approvals from the PRC government authorities to search for a target company, the PRC government has significant authority to exert restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors that may apply if we acquire a PRC Target Company. We will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments as current regulations in China would permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiary will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. See “Risk Factors — If we successfully consummate a business combination with a PRC Target Company, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following the consummation of our initial business combination.”
47
The following diagram describes the flow of proceeds from our initial public offering.

The following illustrative table shows the post-business combination funds flow of us to the extent that we acquire a PRC Target Company with VIE structure.

____________
Note:
(1) We may transfer funds to the PRC Target Company through an increase in the registered capital of or a shareholder loan to the PRC Target Company. The PRC Target Company may in turn make distributions or pay dividends to us.
(2) The PRC Target Company will provide the consolidated VIE (PRC-based operating company) with services, such as, for example technical development, technical support, management consultation, marketing and promotional services and other related services on an exclusive basis. The consolidated VIE (PRC-based operating company) will pay specified service fees to the PRC Target Company as consideration for the services provided.
48
In contrast, the following illustrative table shows the post-business combination funds flow of us to the extent that we acquire a PRC Target Company through direct equity investment.

____________
Note:
(1) We may transfer funds to the PRC Target Company through an increase in the registered capital of or a shareholder loan to the PRC Target Company. The PRC Target Company may in turn make distributions or pay dividends to us.
Dilution
The following table illustrates the difference between the public offering price and our net tangible book value (NTBV), as adjusted to give effect to this offering and to redemptions of our public shares at varying levels, assuming the full exercise and no exercise of the over-allotment option. See the section “Dilution.”
The below calculations (A) assume that (i) no ordinary shares are issued to shareholders of a potential business combination target as consideration or issuable by a post-business combination company, for instance under an equity or employee share purchase plan, (ii) no ordinary shares and convertible equity or debt securities are issued in connection with additional financing that we may seek in connection with an initial business combination (however, we may need to do so as we intend to target an initial business combination with a target company whose enterprise value is greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of private placement units), and (iii) no working capital loans are converted into private placement units, as further described in this prospectus, and (B) assume the issuance of 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (or 12,650,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), 375,000 private placement shares and 4,216,667 founder shares (up to 550,000 of which are assumed to be forfeited in the scenario in which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full). The issuance of additional ordinary or preference shares may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would even further increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B ordinary shares resulted in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares.
49
On March 31, 2025, our net tangible book value was $(357,935), or approximately $(0.08) per Class B ordinary share. Assuming various redemption scenarios and after giving effect to the sale of 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the sale of the private placement units and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at March 31, 2025 would have been the following to the public shareholders on a per-share basis immediately after this offering:
| As of March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Offering | 25% of | 50% of | 75% of | Maximum | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NTBV | NTBV | Difference | NTBV | Difference | NTBV | Difference | NTBV | Difference | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||
|
| Assuming No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||
For purposes of presenting the Maximum Redemption scenario, we have reduced our NTBV after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units) by $110,000,000 because holders of up to approximately 100.0% 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 shareholders meeting, including interest, divided by the number of Class A ordinary shares sold in this offering).
For each of the redemption scenarios above, the NTBV was calculated as follows:
| No Redemptions | 25% of Maximum | 50% of Maximum | 75% of Maximum | Maximum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Without | With | Without | With | Without | With | Without | With | Without | With | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public offering price | $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| ||||||||||
| Net tangible book deficit before this offering |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Increase attributable to public shareholders |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Pro forms net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private placement shares |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| ||||||||||
| Percentage of dilution to public shareholders |
| 29.30 | % |
| 29.20 | % |
| 35.80 | % |
| 35.70 | % |
| 46.20 | % |
| 46.00 | % |
| 64.80 | % |
| 64.70 | % |
| 109.100 | % |
| 109.00 | % | ||||||||||
50
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
| No Redemption | 25% of Maximum Redemption | 50% of Maximum Redemption | 75% of Maximum Redemption | Maximum Redemption | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Without | With | Without | With | Without | With | Without | With | Without | With | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book deficit before this offering | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units(1) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ||||||||||
| Plus: Offering costs accrued for or paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ||||||||||
| Less: Deferred underwriting commissions |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Less: Over-allotment |
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
| Less: Amounts paid for redemptions(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Total |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares outstanding prior to this offering |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ||||||||||
| Ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not |
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
| Ordinary shares offered |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ||||||||||
| Private placement shares |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ||||||||||
| Less: Ordinary shares redeemed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) |
| ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Total |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ||||||||||
____________
(1) Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of approximately $630,000 and underwriting commissions of $2,200,000 (or $2,530,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (excluding deferred underwriting commissions). See “Use of Proceeds.”
(2) If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of ordinary shares subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. See “Proposed Business — Effecting Our Initial Business Combination — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.”
51
RISK FACTORS
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. 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 Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination
Our shareholders 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 shareholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not to hold a shareholder vote to approve our initial business combination if the business combination would not require shareholder approval under applicable laws or stock exchange listing requirements. Except for as required by applicable laws or stock exchange requirements, the decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. Even if we seek shareholder 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 shareholders do not approve of the business combination we complete. Please see the section entitled “Proposed Business — Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination” for additional information.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders and management team have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
Our initial shareholders will own approximately 26% of our outstanding ordinary shares immediately following the completion of this offering (including founder shares and private placement shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Our initial shareholders and management team also may from time to time purchase Class A ordinary shares from the public market prior to our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, if we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination, such initial business combination will be approved if we receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company duly held, shares voted at such meeting, including the founder shares. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised). Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial shareholders and management team to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite shareholder approval for such initial business combination.
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 an initial business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such shareholder vote. Accordingly, 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 shareholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
The redemption of our public shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into an initial business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into an initial business combination transaction agreement with 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. If too many public shareholders
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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. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into an initial business combination transaction with us.
Recent increases in inflation and interest rates in the United States and elsewhere could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Recent increases in inflation and interest rates in the United States and elsewhere may lead to increased price volatility for publicly traded securities, including ours, and may lead to other national, regional and international economic disruptions, any of which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Recent changes in global trade policies and the imposition of tariffs and trade restrictions may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Changes in global trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs, retaliatory measures, and other trade restrictions, may adversely affect the economic environment and the financial condition of the companies with which we may seek to combine, as well as our post-business combination operations. Due to the interconnectedness of the global economy, policy changes in one jurisdiction — such as new tariffs or trade barriers — can have immediate and material adverse impacts globally.
For example, recent U.S. tariffs on imports from various countries, coupled with retaliatory measures such as reciprocal tariffs and export restrictions, have created uncertainties around global supply chains and business operations. The scope, duration, and escalation of such tariffs and countermeasures are difficult to predict and may change rapidly. If we are unable to mitigate the effects of such measures — including by passing on increased costs or securing alternative supply sources — our ability to identify and successfully complete a business combination may be adversely affected.
Additionally, after any business combination, our operations may be impacted by further actions by the U.S. or other governments, such as sanctions or export controls, which could restrict our ability to operate directly or indirectly in certain regions or with certain parties, including affiliates. These developments could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, and prospects post-business combination.
The redemption of a large number of our public 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 shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our 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. Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the Class B ordinary shares results in the issues of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, the amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per share amount we will distribute to shareholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission and after such redemptions, the amount held in trust will continue to reflect our obligation to pay the entire deferred underwriting commissions.
The redemption of 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
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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.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the completion window may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating an initial 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 shareholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning an initial business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within the completion window. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating an initial 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.
Our search for an initial business combination, and any target business with which we may ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected by current global geopolitical conditions resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyber-attacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.
Any of the abovementioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect our search for an initial business combination and any target business with which we may ultimately consummate an initial business combination.
The extent and duration of the ongoing conflicts, resulting sanctions and any related market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial, particularly if current or new sanctions continue for an extended period of time or if geopolitical tensions result in expanded military operations on a global scale. Any such disruptions may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this section. If these disruptions or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate an initial business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we may ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
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Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, and to other company or industry-specific, national, regional or international economic disruptions and economic uncertainty, any of which could make it more difficult for us to identify an initial business combination target and consummate an initial business combination on acceptable commercial terms, or at all.
If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible a U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with any redemptions of our Class A ordinary shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides for, among other things, a new 1% U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022 (the “stock buyback tax” or “U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax”), subject to certain exceptions. If applicable, the amount of the stock buyback 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 previously proposed increasing the stock buyback tax rate from 1% to 4%. It is unclear whether any similar proposals could be made or effectuated during the Trump administration. In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS have released preliminary guidance that would potentially cause a non-U.S. corporation’s U.S. subsidiaries to be subject to the stock buyback tax with respect to any share repurchases made by the non-U.S. corporation under certain circumstances.
As an entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, the stock buyback tax is currently not expected to apply to redemptions of our Class A ordinary shares (absent any regulations or other additional guidance that may be issued in the future).
However, in connection with an initial business combination involving a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a corporation organized under the laws of a state of the United States prior to certain redemptions. Because we expect that, following such a domestication, our securities would continue to trade on Nasdaq, in such a case, we could be subject to the stock buyback tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions (including redemptions in connection with the initial business combination), that are treated as repurchases for this purpose. In all cases, whether and to what extent we would be subject to the stock buyback tax will depend on a number of factors, including (i) the structure of the initial business combination, including the extent to which the initial business combination involves a U.S. corporation and the extent to which we issue shares in the initial business combination or otherwise during the same taxable year that are eligible to offset any redemptions or other repurchases; (ii) the fair market value of the shares redeemed; and (iii) the extent such redemptions could be treated as dividends and not as repurchases. The applicability of the stock buyback tax to us could be further affected by the content of any regulations, clarifications or other additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that may be issued and applicable to the redemptions. Any stock buyback tax that becomes payable as a result of any redemptions of our Class A ordinary shares (or other shares into which such Class A ordinary shares may be converted) in connection with our initial business combination or otherwise would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder. To the extent such taxes are applicable, the payment of such tax would not form part of the permitted withdrawals and as such, the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon shall not be used to pay for possible excise tax pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any stock buyback tax due under the Inflation Reduction Act on any redemptions or stock buybacks by us. If the excise tax is paid out of the trust account, however, the imposition of the stock buyback tax as a result of redemptions in connection with the initial business combination could reduce the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or reduce the cash contribution to the target business in connection with our initial business combination, which could cause the other shareholders of the combined company to economically bear the impact of such stock buyback tax. In addition, the application of the stock buyback tax in the event of a liquidation is uncertain, and the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to the stock buyback tax, in which case the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced. Consequently, the value of your investment in our securities may decrease as a result of the stock buyback tax. In addition, the stock buyback 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.
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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.
In recent years, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed in ways adverse to us, our directors, and our executive officers. The premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable to us and our management team. These trends may continue into the future.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance.”) The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, 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 the completion window. An increasing number of SPACs have liquidated beginning in the second half of 2022 due to an inability to complete an initial business combination within their allotted time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals 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 shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
We may decide not to extend the term we have to consummate our initial business combination, in which case we would redeem our public shares, and the warrants will be worthless.
We have until the date that is 18 months from the closing of this offering, or until such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, to consummate our initial business combination.
If we do not consummate an initial business combination by such deadline, we may decide not to seek to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. If we do not seek to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination, and we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, subject to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such event, the warrants will be worthless.
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Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or our prospects.
The funds in our operating account and our trust account will be held in banks or other financial institutions and 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. 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 (and will no later than 18 months from the closing of this offering) 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. Our cash held in non-interest bearing and interest-bearing accounts may exceed any applicable Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Should events, including limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments occur with respect to the banks or other financial institutions that hold our funds, or that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, the value of the assets in our trust account could be impaired, which could have a material impact on our operating results, liquidity, financial condition and prospects. For example, on March 10, 2023, the FDIC announced that Silicon Valley Bank had been closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. We cannot guarantee that the banks or other financial institutions that will hold our funds will not experience similar issues.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or public warrants from public shareholders, which may increase the likelihood of completing a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants 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 securities our initial shareholders, 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, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. Such purchases may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights.
In the event that our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, to the extent it applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume of purchases.
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares, rights or warrants in such transactions.
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The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants 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 on a Current Report on Form 8-K and pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
Additionally, in the event our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases;
• if our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process;
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;
• our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and
• we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items:
• the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, along with the purchase price;
• the purpose of the purchases by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates;
• the impact, if any, of the purchases by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved;
• the identities of our security holders who sold to our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; and
• the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer.
See “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our co-sponsors, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares or public warrants 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 shareholder 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 shareholder fails to receive our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, such shareholder may not become aware of the
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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 shareholders 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 share 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 shareholder vote, we intend to require a public shareholder 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 shareholder 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.
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 units are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we 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 shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 20% of our Class A ordinary shares, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 20% of our Class A ordinary shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 20% 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 shareholders’ 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 20% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
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 shareholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants 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
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sale of the private placement units, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. 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 shareholder 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 an initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets or such attractive targets may not be interested to consume an initial business combination with a SPAC due to a negative public perception of mergers involving SPACs. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns (including a negative public perception of mergers involving SPACs), geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
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 an initial business combination with.
Pursuant to Nasdaq listing standards, 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 to pay our tax obligations (excluding U.S. stock buyback tax) 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 an initial 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 an initial 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 completion window, 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 permitted withdrawals and loans from our co-sponsors or management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering, only $920,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. We believe that, upon closing of this offering and taking into consideration additional funding from Cayman Sponsor and other affiliates, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will
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be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the completion window; 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 $630,000, 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 $630,000, 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 in addition to permitted withdrawals, we would need to borrow funds from Cayman Sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Neither Cayman 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 completion of our initial business combination or from permitted withdrawals. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 shareholders may only receive an estimated $10.00 per share, or possibly less, on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless.
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 shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (except for 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 shareholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will 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. Audit Alliance LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriters of this offering, 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. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to
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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 shareholders 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 co-sponsors have agreed that they 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 permitted withdrawals, 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 co-sponsors to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our co-sponsors have sufficient funds to satisfy their indemnity obligations and we believe that our co-sponsors’ only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our co-sponsors would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers 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 co-sponsors, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below 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 permitted withdrawals, and our co-sponsors assert that they are unable to satisfy their obligations or that they have no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our co-sponsors to enforce their indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our co-sponsors to enforce their 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 shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy or other 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 shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance, preference or disposition.” As a result, a bankruptcy or other court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.
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If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our shareholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
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.
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 we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete an initial business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor. The New SPAC Rules provided guidance on a SPAC’s investment company status by applying a number of factors, including nature of SPAC assets and income, management activities, duration and the SPAC’s public statement regarding its business plans and activities.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act under the applicable laws and regulations. To this end, 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. 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 (and will no later than 18 months from the closing of this offering) 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.
Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly
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submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to offer redemption rights in connection with any proposed initial business combination or certain amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior thereto 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 provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within the completion window, from the closing of this offering, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the public shares.
We are aware of litigation against certain special purpose acquisition companies asserting that notwithstanding the foregoing, those special purpose acquisition companies should be considered investment companies. Since the assets in our trust account will be securities, there is nevertheless a risk that we could be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company under the Investment Company Act. Although we believe that these claims are without merit, we cannot guarantee that we will not be deemed to be an investment company and thus subject to the Investment Company Act. At any time, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial business combination or may result in our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless, and our public shareholders would also lose the possibility of an investment opportunity in a target company as well as any potential price appreciation in the combined company following a business combination. While we do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act, if any facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure to reflect how those changes impact the risk that we may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company.
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 could increase the costs and time needed to complete an initial business combination or impair our ability to complete an initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
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.
Effective July 1, 2024, the SEC issued final rules relating to, among other items, enhancing disclosures in business combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; amending the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; effectively limiting the use of projections in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; and increasing the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions. These rules may materially adversely affect our ability to engage financial and capital market advisors, negotiate and complete our initial business combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
If we are forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. As a result, a liquidator could seek
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to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to us or our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing themselves and our company to claims, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. We and our directors and officers who knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted any distribution to be paid out of our share premium account while we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business would be guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine and to imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.
We may not hold an annual general meeting until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could delay the opportunity for our shareholders to appoint directors.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual general meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or extraordinary general meetings to appoint directors. Until we hold an annual general meeting, public shareholders may not be afforded the opportunity to appoint directors and to discuss company affairs with management. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being appointed in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. In addition, as holders of our Class A ordinary shares, our public shareholders will not have the right to vote on the appointment of directors until after the consummation of our initial business combination.
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. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prohibit us from effectuating an initial business combination solely with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected any specific target business with respect to an initial business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. In recent years, a number of target businesses have underperformed financially following consummation of their business combination. 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 an initial business combination target. Accordingly, any shareholders or warrant holders who choose to remain shareholders or warrant holders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such shareholders or warrant 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.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with a business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with a business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include volatile revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
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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 shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain shareholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm for another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our shareholders 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 or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete an initial business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of 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 Class A ordinary shares;
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• 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 Class A ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
• limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
• increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, 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 private placement of units will provide us with $105,600,000 (or $121,440,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use to complete our initial business combination (after taking into account the deferred underwriting commissions of up to $4,400,000 (or up to $5,060,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) being held in the trust account).
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.
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We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in an initial 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 an initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
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 shareholders or warrant holders do not agree.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. In addition, 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 shareholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our co-sponsors, officers, directors, advisors or any of their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all Class A ordinary shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares in connection with such initial business combination, all Class A ordinary shares 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 warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that our shareholders may not support.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, special purpose acquisition companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, special purpose acquisition companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. Amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require the approval of a special resolution of our shareholders, which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, and amending our warrant agreement will require a vote of holders of at least 50% of the warrants. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association require us to provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we propose an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ 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.
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The provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of not less than two-thirds of our ordinary shares who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company (or 50% of our ordinary shares with respect to amendments to the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account), 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 memorandum and articles of association to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our shareholders may not support.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement of units into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public shareholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by special resolution, under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 50% of our ordinary shares. Our initial shareholders, who will collectively beneficially own approximately 26% of our ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (including founder shares and private placement shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association which govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other special purpose acquisition companies, and this may increase our ability to complete an initial business combination with which you do not agree. Our shareholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Our co-sponsors, officers, directors and director nominees have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. Our shareholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our co-sponsors, officers, directors or director nominees for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our shareholders would need to pursue a shareholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without shareholder approval.
Each of the agreements related to this offering to which we are a party, other than the warrant agreement and the investment management trust agreement, may be amended without shareholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the letter agreement among us and our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, officers and directors; the registration rights agreement among us and our initial shareholders; the private placement unit purchase agreements between us and our co-sponsors; and the administrative services agreement among us and our co-sponsors. These agreements contain various provisions that our public shareholders 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, private placement units and other securities held by our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, 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
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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 shareholders, 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 shareholders 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 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 shareholders, 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 closing 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. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants 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 shareholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Our initial shareholders control a substantial interest in us and thus may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon closing of this offering, our initial shareholders will own approximately 26% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (including founder shares and private placement shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. To the extent that any sponsor non-managing members acquire membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, they will have no right to control Delaware Sponsor or vote or dispose of any securities held by Delaware Sponsor. If our initial shareholders purchase any units in this offering or if our initial shareholders purchase any additional ordinary shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. If our initial shareholders purchase any units in this offering or if our initial shareholders purchase any additional Class A ordinary shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Neither our initial shareholders nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this prospectus. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A ordinary share. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a greater majority than an ordinary resolution). Assuming that the holders of only one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are present in person or by proxy, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and all such shares held by our initial shareholders are voted, we would not need any of the 11,000,000 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 overallotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a higher threshold
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than an ordinary resolution). In addition, our board of directors, whose members were appointed by our co-sponsors, 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 appointed in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders to appoint new directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual general meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for appointment and our initial shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. In addition, only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, only the Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote to continue our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands. This provision of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, which shall include the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Class B ordinary shares. As a result, you will not have any influence over our continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination. Accordingly, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
Because we must furnish our shareholders 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 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.
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, 2025. 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.
Our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to our shareholders and warrant holders. As a result of our business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.
Although we will attempt to structure our initial business combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and we may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in connection with our initial business combination and
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subject to any requisite shareholder approval, we may structure our business combination in a manner that requires shareholders and/or warrant holders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes, effect an initial business combination with a target company in another jurisdiction, or reincorporate in a different jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located). We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders or warrant holders to pay taxes in connection with our business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a shareholder or a warrant holder may need to satisfy any liability resulting from our initial business combination with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of the shares received. In addition, shareholders and warrant holders may also be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after our initial business combination.
In addition, we may effect an initial business combination with a target company that has business operations outside of the United States, and possibly, business operations in multiple jurisdictions. If we effect such an initial business combination, we could be subject to significant income, withholding and other tax obligations in a number of jurisdictions with respect to income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Due to the complexity of tax obligations and filings in other jurisdictions, we may have a heightened risk related to audits or examinations by U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxing authorities. This additional complexity and risk could have an adverse effect on our after-tax profitability and financial condition.
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 shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
In the event that New Chenghe fails to satisfy any of the listing requirements of Nasdaq or the NYSE, Nasdaq or the NYSE may reject our listing application, and the parties may waive any closing condition in the initial business combination agreement that New Chenghe ordinary shares be listed on Nasdaq or the NYSE at the closing of the initial business combination.
Following our expected initial business combination, we expect that ordinary shares and public warrants of New Chenghe will be listed on either Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). In the event that New Chenghe fails to satisfy any of the listing requirements, Nasdaq or NYSE may reject New Chenghe’s listing application. Though the listing of New Chenghe ordinary shares on either Nasdaq or NYSE is expected to be a condition to the closing of our initial business combination, the parties may waive such closing condition and proceed to close, in which case New Chenghe’s ordinary shares will likely instead be quoted on the OTC Markets. If New Chenghe’s ordinary shares are not listed on Nasdaq or NYSE, it is likely to be more difficult to trade in or obtain accurate quotations as to the market price of New Chenghe’s ordinary shares. As a result, New Chenghe could face significant adverse consequences. Please see “Risk Factor — 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.”
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Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company
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 shareholders or warrant holders who choose to remain shareholders or warrant holders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such shareholders or warrant 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.
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.
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 completion 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 Cayman Islands law.
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We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effect 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 shareholders or warrant holders who choose to remain shareholders or warrant holders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such shareholders or warrant 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 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 completion of our initial business combination. The loss of an initial 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 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 shareholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires 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 shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new Class A ordinary shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests 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 Class A ordinary shares, our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority shareholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s 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.
Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries
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. We would also 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.
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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;
• 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.
Following our initial business combination, our management may resign from their positions as officers or directors of the post-combination entity and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination may remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
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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After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue will be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. Economic growth could be uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.
Exchange rate fluctuations and currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, and the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.
We may undertake our initial business combination with an entity or business which is based in a foreign country, including China, and the laws and regulations of such foreign countries may not afford U.S. investors or regulatory agencies access to information normally available to them with respect to U.S. based entities.
In November 2020, the SEC Staff issued guidance regarding certain risks and considerations that should be considered by investors regarding foreign entities, specifically the limited ability of U.S. investors and regulatory agencies to rely upon or obtain information from foreign based entities, specifically China based entities, under the laws and regulations of such foreign countries. As stated by the SEC Staff, “[A]lthough China-based Issuers that access the U.S. public capital markets generally have the same disclosure obligations and legal responsibilities as other non-U.S. issuers, the SEC’s ability to promote and enforce high-quality disclosure standards for China-based Issuers may be materially limited. As a result, there is substantially greater risk that their disclosures may be incomplete or misleading. In addition, in the event of investor harm, investors generally will have substantially less access to recourse, in comparison to U.S. domestic companies and foreign issuers in other jurisdictions.” Among other potential issues and risks cited by the SEC Staff, the SEC Staff identified restrictions in China which restricted the PCAOB’s ability to inspect audit work and practices of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in China and on the PCAOB’s ability to inspect audit work with respect to China-based issuer audits by PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in Hong Kong. However, we will not conduct an initial business combination with a target company that has an auditor that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years at the time of our business combination, and will not engage an auditor following an initial business combination that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years.
Further, current laws and regulations in China as well as other potential target countries, can limit or restrict investigations and similar activities by U.S. regulatory agencies such as the SEC to gather information regarding the securities and other activities of issuers based in the foreign countries where such laws or regulations exist. According to Article 177 of the newly amended PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020 (the “Article 177,”) the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council may collaborate with securities regulatory authorities of other countries or regions in order to monitor and oversee cross border securities activities. Article 177 further provides that overseas securities regulatory authorities are not allowed to carry out investigation and evidence collection directly within the territory of the PRC, and that any Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to overseas agencies without prior consent of the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. Although we have not identified a potential target business nor any particular country in which an initial business combination may occur, we intend to consider potential target business in foreign jurisdictions, including China based entities and businesses,
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and therefore investors should be aware of risks related to the ability to obtain information and conduct investigations and be afforded protections by U.S. based agencies such as the SEC related to any such business combination with a target business in a foreign country and consider such risks prior to investing in our securities.
Agreements we may enter into with potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities or acquisitions of offshore entities that conduct operations through affiliates in the PRC may be subject to a high level of scrutiny by the relevant tax authorities.
Under the laws of the PRC, agreements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the relevant tax authorities. If any of the transactions we enter into with potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities are found not to be on an arm’s-length basis, or to result in an unreasonable reduction in tax under local law, the relevant tax authorities may have the authority to disallow any tax savings, adjust the profits and losses of such potential future local entities and assess late payment interest and penalties. A finding by the relevant tax authorities that we are ineligible for any such tax savings, or that any of our possible future affiliated entities is not eligible for tax exemptions, would substantially increase our possible future taxes and thus reduce our net income and the value of a shareholder’s investment. In addition, in the event that in connection with an acquisition of an offshore entity that conducted its operations through affiliates in the PRC, the sellers of such entities failed to pay any taxes required under local law, the relevant tax authorities could require us to withhold and pay the tax, together with late-payment interest and penalties. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition.
China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
If we acquire a PRC Target Company, our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and certain transactions we may undertake may be subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China. China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has generally experienced significant growth in the past two to three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the growth of the PRC economy has slowed down in recent years. Demand for target services and products depends, in large part, on economic conditions in China. Any further slowdown in China’s economic growth may cause our potential customers to delay or cancel their plans to purchase our services and products, which in turn could reduce our net revenues.
Although China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy since the late 1970s, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling the incurrence and payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations could adversely affect the economy in China and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage foreign investment and sustainable economic growth and to guide the allocation of financial and other resources. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not repeal or alter these measures or introduce new measures that will have a negative effect on us. China’s social and political conditions may change, and such changes, if not in our favor, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The PRC government also has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a company with substantial operations in China to conduct its business and control over securities offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investments at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities. In particular, there have been recent statements by the PRC government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based companies with substantial operations in China. We are not currently required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on a U.S. securities exchange and consummate this offering. However, there is no guarantee that this will continue to be the case in the future in relation to the continued listing of our securities on a securities exchange outside of the
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PRC, or even when such permission is obtained, it will not be subsequently denied or rescinded. Any such regulatory oversight or control could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
Any actions by the Chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence the operations of any future PRC subsidiary or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to the operations of any future PRC subsidiary, may limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. The governmental and regulatory interference could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors post-business combination and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. The ability of our subsidiary to operate in China may be impaired by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, foreign investment limitations, and other matters. The central or local governments of China may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our PRC subsidiary compliance with such regulations or interpretations. As such, any future PRC subsidiary may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. They could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. They may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.
Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether we will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Our operations following a business combination with a PRC entity could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry, particularly in the event permission to list on U.S. exchanges may be later required, or withheld or rescinded once given.
Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms, to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, to intervene or influence the operations of any future PRC subsidiary at any time or to exert control over an offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to the operations of any future PRC subsidiary, may limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and/or may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Given that most of our directors and officers have ties to mainland China and/or Hong Kong, the Chinese government may exercise oversight and discretion over their conduct including their search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas by and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business, the PRC Target Company’s business operations post-business combination and/or the value of the securities we are registering.
Since most of our directors and officers have ties to mainland China and/or Hong Kong, the Chinese government may have potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our directors and officers including over our directors’ and officers’ search for a target company. Specifically, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United Statesspe and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Kwan Sun, our independent director nominee, holds Australian citizenship and resides in the United States. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time through the directors and officers who have ties in China, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are offering. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC
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government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate. The realization of any these risks could adversely impact our initial business combination, future business and any future offering of securities.
In addition, the Chinese government has indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, and initiated various regulatory actions and made various public statements, some of which are published with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. These existing measures, and additional pending or future new measures which may be implemented, could materially and adversely affect our operations and the operations of any post-business combination company. While our officers and directors are not required to obtain permissions or approvals from the Chinese government authorities to search for a target company, the Chinese government has significant authority to exert influence on the ability of a China-based company to conduct its business, make or accept foreign investments or list on a U.S. stock exchange. For example, if we enter into a business combination with a PRC Target Company, the combined company may face risks associated with regulatory approvals of the proposed business combination between us and the target, offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, cybersecurity and data privacy. The PRC government may also intervene with or influence the combined company’s operations at any time as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. These risks could result in a material change in our operations, our search for a target company and/or the value of the securities that we are registering for sale or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.
On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or SAT Circular 7. SAT Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Circular 7 has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Circular 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. On October 17, 2017, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular on Issues of Withholding of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises at Source, or SAT Circular 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. SAT Circular 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of non-resident enterprise income tax.
Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is known as an indirect transfer, the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such indirect transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.
We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries and investments. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if our company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is transferee in such transactions, under SAT Circular 7 or SAT Circular 37. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Circular 7 or SAT Circular 37 or to establish that our company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which legal cases have limited value as precedents. In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The legislation over the past three decades has significantly increased the protection afforded to various forms of foreign or private-sector investment in China. Any future PRC subsidiary would be subject to various PRC laws and regulations generally applicable to companies in China. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, however, the interpretations of many laws, regulations, and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations, and rules involve uncertainties.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, however, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy in the PRC legal system than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies, internal rules, and regulations that may have retroactive effect and may change quickly with little advance notice. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainties over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property), and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations. In addition, the legal and regulatory risks associated with doing business in China may make us a less attractive partner in an initial business combination than other special purpose acquisition companies that do not have ties to China. As such, our ties to China, including through our co-sponsors, officers and directors, may make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company without any such ties.
Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. In that case, Nasdaq would delist our securities. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections may deprive our investors with the benefits of such inspections.
The HFCAA was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, the SEC shall prohibit our shares or other securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements under the HFCAA. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which would amend the HFCAA and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years.
On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the HFCAA. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements of the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report in which it determined that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in China, because of positions taken by Chinese authorities in those jurisdictions. The PCAOB made its determination pursuant to its Rule 6100, which provides the framework for how the PCAOB fulfills its responsibilities under the HFCAA. In addition, the PCAOB’s
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report also identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to the PCAOB’s determination that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in China. Our auditor, Audit Alliance LLP, is headquartered in Singapore, and was not identified in the report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination.
In December 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize its rules under the HFCAA that set forth submission and disclosure requirements for commission — identified issuers identified under the Act, specify the processes by which the SEC will identify and notify Commission-Identified Issuers, and implement trading prohibitions after three consecutive years of identification. On December 2022, Congress passed the omnibus spending bill and the President signed it into law. This spending bill included the enactment of provisions to accelerate the timeline for implementation of trading prohibitions from three years to two years. Separately, on December 15, 2022, the PCAOB published its determination that in 2022 the PCAOB was able to inspect and investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. This determination reset the now two-year clock for compliance with the trading prohibitions for identified issuers audited by these firms. The amendment had originally been passed by the U.S. Senate in June 2021, as the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act.
The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group (“PWG”) on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfill its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCAA. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCAA. For example, if a company was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.
The SEC has announced that the SEC staff is preparing a consolidated proposal for the rules regarding the implementation of the HFCAA and to address the recommendations in the PWG report. It is unclear when the SEC will complete its rulemaking and when such rules will become effective and what, if any, of the PWG recommendations will be adopted. The SEC has also announced amendments to various annual report forms to accommodate the certification and disclosure requirements of the HFCAA. There could be additional regulatory or legislative requirements or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. The implications of these possible regulations in addition to the requirements of the HFCAA are uncertain, and such uncertainty could cause the market price of our securities to be materially and adversely affected. If, for whatever reason, the PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, the company could be delisted or prohibited from being traded over the counter earlier than would be required by the HFCAA. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such delisting and prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with potential delisting and prohibition would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such delisting and prohibition could significantly affect the company’s ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, financial condition and prospects.
Inspections of audit firms that the PCAOB has conducted have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. Our current auditor, Audit Alliance LLP, is an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, and is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. However, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction, Nasdaq would delist our securities, and the SEC would prohibit our securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S. For example, if we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC and if our new auditor is located in China, with operations in and which performs audit operations of registrants in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, the work of our new auditor as it relates to those operations may not be inspected by the PCAOB. Although we will not conduct an initial business combination with a target company that has an auditor that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years at the time of our business combination, and will not engage an auditor following an initial
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business combination that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years, which requirements will be included as a condition to closing our initial business combination, if applicable laws, regulations or interpretations change that prevent any such auditor from being inspected by the PCAOB in the future, we may suffer adverse consequences including the delisting of our securities. If our securities are delisted and prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S. due to the PCAOB not being able to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, it would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with potential delisting and prohibition would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such delisting and prohibition could significantly affect the company’s ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, financial condition and prospects. If the PCAOB were unable to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor in the future, investors in our securities would be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. In addition, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections or full investigations of auditors would may make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in the audit procedures of our auditor and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
U.S. laws and regulations, including the HFCAA, may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete an initial business combination with certain companies, particularly those acquisition candidates with substantial operations in China.
The PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections on accounting firms in the PRC without the approval of the Chinese government authorities. Future developments in U.S. laws may restrict our ability or willingness to complete certain business combinations with companies that are affected. For instance, the enacted HFCAA would restrict our ability to consummate an initial business combination with a target company unless that business met certain standards of the PCAOB and would require delisting of a company from U.S. national securities exchanges if the PCAOB is unable to inspect its public accounting firm for three consecutive years. The HFCAA also requires public companies to disclose, among other things, whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically, those based in China. While we will not conduct an initial business combination with a target company that has an auditor that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years beginning at the time of our business combination, and will not engage an auditor following an initial business combination that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years, we may not be able to consummate an initial business combination with a favored target company due to these laws.
In the event that we complete an initial business combination with a PRC Target Company and any of the legislative actions or regulatory changes discussed above were to proceed in ways that are detrimental to China-based issuers, it could cause us to fail to be in compliance with U.S. securities laws and regulations, we could cease to be listed on a U.S. securities exchange, and U.S. trading of our shares could be prohibited. Any of these actions, or uncertainties in the market about the possibility of such actions, could adversely affect our prospects to successfully complete an initial business combination with a China-based company.
Other developments in U.S. laws and regulatory environment, including but not limited to executive orders such as Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies,” may further restrict our ability to complete an initial business combination with certain China-based businesses.
Regulatory actions by the PRC government with respect to foreign capital efforts and activities, including business combinations with offshore shell companies such as SPACs, may adversely impact our ability to consummate an initial business combination with a China based entity or business, or materially impact the value of our securities following any such business combination.
Although we have not identified any potential business combination target or any country in which we may source any target business, we may eventually identify and submit for shareholder approval an initial business combination with a PRC Target Company.
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced three existing laws on foreign investments in China, namely, the PRC Equity Joint Venture Law, the PRC Cooperative Joint Venture Law and the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law, together
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with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic invested enterprises in China. The Foreign Investment Law establishes the basic framework for access to, and the promotion, protection and administration of foreign investments in view of investment protection and fair competition.
According to the China Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by one or more natural persons, business entities, or otherwise organizations of a foreign country (collectively referred to as “foreign investor”) within China, and the investment activities include the following situations: (i) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, establishes a foreign-invested enterprise within China; (ii) a foreign investor acquires stock shares, equity shares, shares in assets, or other like rights and interests of an enterprise within China; (iii) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, invests in a new project within China; and (iv) investments in other means as provided by laws, administrative regulations, or the State Council. The VIE structure has been adopted by many PRC-based companies to obtain necessary licenses and permits in the industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China.
On July 30, 2021, the Chairman of the SEC issued a statement highlighting potential issues resulting from recent China regulatory changes and guidance that may impact investors’ investments in China based entities. According to the Chairman of the SEC, the PRC provided new guidance to and placed restrictions on China-based companies raising capital offshore, including through associated offshore shell companies. These developments include China government-led cybersecurity reviews of certain companies raising capital through offshore entities. This is relevant to U.S. investors. In a number of sectors in China, companies are not allowed to have foreign ownership and cannot directly list on exchanges outside of China. To raise money on such exchanges, many China-based operating companies are structured as VIEs. In such an arrangement, a China-based operating company typically establishes an offshore shell company in another jurisdiction to issue stock to public shareholders. For U.S. investors, this arrangement creates “exposure” to the China-based operating company, though only through a series of service contracts and other contracts.
Should we choose to acquire a PRC Target Company, we may acquire such a company through a VIE structure as a holding company with no material operations of our own, and conduct a substantial majority of business operations after the business combination consummated through our subsidiaries established and the VIE in the PRC.
Should we consummate our initial business combination with a company within the jurisdiction of the PRC, we may acquire such company through a VIE structure and may not have direct ownership of such company acquired. We may control and receive the economic benefits of the business operations of the company acquired through a VIE structure. If we acquire a target company that operates its business in the PRC through VIE structure, investors in our ordinary shares following an initial business combination would not hold equity interests in operating companies domiciled in the PRC under our control and would hold equity interests in a Cayman Islands holding company upon the consummation of the business combination. We would rely on the contractual arrangements with the VIE subsidiaries and its shareholders to operate the business. We do not have equity interests in such PRC operating companies but whose financial results would be consolidated into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, due to us or our direct owned subsidiaries in the PRC, i.e., the WFOE, and our company’s being the primary beneficiary of, such entity, for the accounting purposes. As such, in the event that we complete an initial business combination with a company in the PRC, you would not hold equity in the PRC operating companies. The contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over the VIE as ownership of controlling equity interests would be in providing us with control over, or enabling us to derive economic benefits from the operations of the VIE. Under the contractual arrangements, as a legal matter, if the VIE or any of its shareholders executing the VIE agreements fails to perform its, his or her respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies available under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure you will be effective. For example, if shareholders of a VIE were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in such VIE to us or our designated persons when we exercise the purchase option pursuant to the contractual arrangements, we may have to take legal action to compel them to fulfil their contractual obligations. The agreements associated with the VIE structure have not been tested in court of law in any jurisdiction.
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If the PRC government deems that the contractual arrangements in relation to the potential PRC Target Company and the VIE do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
If (i) the applicable PRC authorities invalidate the contractual arrangements for violation of PRC laws, rules and regulations, (ii) any VIE or its shareholders terminate the contractual arrangements, (iii) any VIE or its shareholders fail to perform its/his/her obligations under the contractual arrangements, or (iv) if these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, the PRC Target Company’s business operations in China would be materially and adversely affected, and the value of your securities would substantially decrease or even become worthless. Further, if we fail to renew the contractual arrangements upon their expiration, we would not be able to continue the business operations unless the then current PRC law allows us to directly operate businesses in China.
In addition, if any VIE or all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of the VIEs undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its shareholders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business and our ability to generate revenues.
All of the contractual arrangements will be governed by PRC law and provided for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these contracts will be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes will be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce the contractual arrangements. In the event that we are unable to enforce the contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over our operating entities and we may be precluded from operating our business, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over the VIE. For example, the VIE and its shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. If we had direct ownership of the VIE, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of the VIE, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by the VIE and its shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to exercise control over the VIE. The shareholders of the VIE may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the contractual arrangements with the VIE.
If the VIE or its shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. For example, if the shareholders of the VIE refuse to transfer their equity interest in the VIE to us or our designee if we exercise the purchase option pursuant to the contractual arrangements, or if they otherwise act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations. In addition, if any third parties claim any interest in such shareholders’ equity interests in the VIE, our ability to exercise shareholders’ rights or foreclose the share pledge according to the contractual arrangements may be impaired. If these or other disputes between the shareholders of the VIE and third parties were to impair our control over the VIE, our ability to consolidate the financial results of the VIE would be affected, which would in turn result in a material adverse effect on the business, operations and financial condition.
Although based on industry practices, VIE contractual arrangements among the WFOE, the VIE and its shareholders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect, however, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may ultimately take a view that is contrary to the accepted industry practices with respect to VIE contractual arrangements. In addition, it is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. PRC government authorities may deem that foreign ownership is directly or indirectly involved in the VIE’s shareholding structure. If our potential corporate structure and contractual arrangements are deemed by
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the MIIT, or the MOFCOM or other regulators having competent authority to be illegal, either in whole or in part, we may lose control of the consolidated VIE and have to modify such structure to comply with regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that we can achieve this without material disruption to the PRC Target Company’s business. Furthermore, if we consummate an initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, and we or the VIE is found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion to take action in dealing with such violations or failures, including, without limitation:
• revoking the business license and/or operating licenses of the WFOE or the VIE;
• discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations through any transactions among the WFOE, the VIE and its subsidiaries;
• imposing fines, confiscating the income from the WFOE, the VIE or its subsidiaries, or imposing other requirements with which we or the VIE may not be able to comply;
• placing restrictions on our right to collect revenues;
• requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements with the VIE and deregistering the equity pledges of the VIE, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert effective control over the VIE; or taking other regulatory or enforcement actions against us that could be harmful to our business.
The imposition of any of these penalties will result in a material and adverse effect on our potential ability to conduct the business. In addition, it is unclear what impact the PRC government actions will have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in our consolidated financial statements, if the PRC government authorities were to find our potential corporate structure and contractual arrangements to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations. If the imposition of any of these government actions causes us to lose our right to direct the activities of the VIE or our right to receive substantially all the economic benefits and residual returns from the VIE and we are not able to restructure our ownership structure and operations in a timely and satisfactory manner, we will no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in our consolidated financial statements. Either of these results, or any other significant penalties that might be imposed on us in this event, it will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our securities shares may decline in value or be worthless.
If we successfully consummate our initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following the consummation of our initial business combination.
After we consummate our initial business combination, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. Current regulations in China would permit an operating company in China to pay dividends to its parent company only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations.
In addition, if we consummate an initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, our operating company in China would be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. Such cash reserve may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if our post-business combination operating company in China incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.
The cash-flow structure of a post-acquisition company based in China poses additional risks including, but not limited to, restrictions on foreign exchange and restrictions on our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors.
While our officers and directors are not required to obtain permissions or approvals from the PRC government authorities to search for a target company, the PRC government has significant authority to exert restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors that may apply if we acquire a PRC Target Company. We will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments as current regulations in China would permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiary will be required to set
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aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. See “Risk Factors — If we successfully consummate a business combination with a PRC Target Company, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following the consummation of our initial business combination.”
The following diagram describes the flow of proceeds from our initial public offering.

The following illustrative table shows the post-business combination funds flow of us to the extent that we acquire a PRC Target Company with VIE structure.

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Note:
(1) We may transfer funds to the PRC Target Company through an increase in the registered capital of or a shareholder loan to the PRC Target Company. The PRC Target Company may in turn make distributions or pay dividends to us.
(2) The PRC Target Company will provide the consolidated VIE (PRC-based operating company) with services, such as, for example technical development, technical support, management consultation, marketing and promotional services and other related services on an exclusive basis. The consolidated VIE (PRC-based operating company) will pay specified service fees to the PRC Target Company as consideration for the services provided.
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In contrast, the following illustrative table shows the post-business combination funds flow of us to the extent that we acquire a PRC Target Company through direct equity investment.

____________
Note:
(1) We may transfer funds to the PRC Target Company through an increase in the registered capital of or a shareholder loan to the PRC Target Company. The PRC Target Company may in turn make distributions or pay dividends to us.
In addition, we may be subject to restrictions on currency exchange as the PRC government may limit or eliminate our ability to utilize cash generated in RMB to fund our business activities outside of the PRC or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our securities, and may limit our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing. Should we choose to acquire a PRC Target Company, exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to acquire a target company in PRC and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our initial business combination. If we were to acquire a PRC company, the PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, our PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies and governmental control in currency conversion may restrict our ability to make loans to or capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
These restrictions will restrict our ability to distribute earnings from our businesses, including subsidiaries and/or consolidated VIEs, to the parent company and U.S. investors as well as the ability to settle amounts owed under the VIE agreements, though we do not intend to distribute earnings or settle amounts owed under such VIE agreements to the PRC Target Company’s subsidiaries. In addition, fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses to us and may reduce the value of, and amount in U.S. dollar of dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms.
If, subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination, we make equity compensation grants to persons who are PRC citizens, they may be required to register with SAFE. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt equity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC laws.
On April 6, 2007, SAFE issued the “Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company,” also known as “Circular 78.” It is not clear whether Circular 78 covers all forms of equity compensation plans or only those which provide for the granting of share options.
For any plans which are so covered and are adopted by a non-PRC listed company, such as our company, after April 6, 2007, Circular 78 requires all participants who are PRC citizens to register with and obtain approvals from SAFE prior to their participation in the plan. We believe that the registration and approval requirements contemplated in Circular 78 will be burdensome and time consuming.
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Upon consummation of initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, we may adopt an equity incentive plan and make share option grants under the plan to our officers, directors and employees, whom may be PRC citizens and be required to register with SAFE. If any of our equity compensation plans are subject to Circular 78, failure to comply with such provisions may subject us and participants of our equity incentive plan who are PRC citizens to fines and legal sanctions and prevent us from being able to grant equity compensation to our PRC employees. In that case, our ability to compensate our employees and directors through equity compensation would be hindered and our business may be adversely affected.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies, which could negatively impact potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.
On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Taxation of the PRC (the “SAT”) issued the Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Tax Resident Enterprises (“SAT Bulletin 7”). SAT Bulletin 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company.
In addition, SAT Bulletin 7 has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Bulletin 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets, as such persons need to determine whether their transactions are subject to these rules and whether any withholding obligation applies.
On October 25, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source (“SAT Bulletin 37”), which came into effect on December 1, 2017. SAT Bulletin 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of non-resident enterprise income tax.
Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an “Indirect Transfer,” the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax.
As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who pays for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.
We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of certain past and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as investments and acquisitions. Although we currently have no plans to pursue any acquisitions in China or elsewhere in the world, we may pursue acquisitions in China that could trigger these tax obligations. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if our company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is transferee in such transactions, under SAT Bulletin 7 and/or SAT Bulletin 37.
For transfer of shares in our company by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises, any PRC subsidiaries may be requested to assist in the filing under SAT Bulletin 7 and/or SAT Bulletin 37. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 7 and/or SAT Bulletin 37 or to request that the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets comply with these circulars, or establish that our company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
If we merge with a China-based operating company, then there are significant uncertainties under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of the PRC entity, and dividends payable by the PRC entity to our offshore entity may not qualify for certain treaty benefits.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“PRC EIT Law”) and its implementation rules, if following our initial business combination we are a non-resident enterprise, that is, an enterprise lawfully incorporated pursuant to the laws of a foreign country (region) that has an office or premises established in China with no actual management functions performed in China, or an enterprise that has income derived from or accruing in China although it does
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not have an office or premises in China, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. Under the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues regarding the Administration of the Dividend Provision in Tax Treaties promulgated on February 20, 2009, the taxpayer needs to satisfy certain conditions to utilize the benefits under a tax treaty, including but not limited to (1) the taxpayer must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends, and (2) the corporate shareholder to receive dividends from the PRC entity must have continuously met the direct ownership thresholds during the 12 consecutive months preceding the receipt of the dividends. Further, under Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which took effect on April 1, 2018, a “Beneficial Owner” shall mean a person who has ownership and control over the income and the rights and property from which the income is derived. To determine the “beneficial owner” status of a resident of the treaty counterparty who needs to take advantage of the tax treaty benefits, a comprehensive analysis shall be carried out, taking into account actual conditions of the specific case.
Entitlement to a lower tax rate on dividends according to tax treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions is subject to Announcement of State Taxation Administration on Promulgation of the Administrative Measures on Non-resident Taxpayers Enjoying Treaty Benefits, or Circular 35. Circular 35 provides that non-resident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax. Instead, non-resident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty benefits are met, directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate, and file necessary forms and supporting documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities.
In addition, in response to the persistent capital outflow in China and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and SAFE promulgated a series of capital control measures in the subsequent months, including stricter vetting procedures for domestic companies to remit foreign currency for overseas investments, dividends payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any limitation on the ability of us to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us following our initial business combination could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
If we choose to acquire a PRC Target Company, our initial business combination may be subject to national security review by the PRC government and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.
The Security Review Regulations cover acquisitions by foreign investors of a broad range of PRC enterprises if such acquisitions could result in de facto control by foreign investors and the enterprises are relating to military, national defense, important agriculture products, important energy and natural resources, important infrastructures, important transportation services, key technologies and important equipment manufacturing. The scope of the review includes whether the acquisition will impact the national security, economic and social stability, and the research and development capabilities on key national security related technologies. Foreign investors should submit a security review application to the Department of Commerce for its initial review for contemplated acquisition. If the acquisition is considered to be within the scope of the Security Review Regulations, the Department of Commerce will transfer the application to a joint security review committee within five business days for further review. The joint security review committee, consisting of members from various PRC government agencies, will conduct a general review and seek comments from relevant government agencies. The joint security review committee may initiate a further special review and request the termination or restructuring of the contemplated acquisition if it determines that the acquisition will result in significant national security issue.
The Security Review Regulations will potentially subject a large number of mergers and acquisitions transactions by foreign investors in China to an additional layer of regulatory review. Currently, there is significant uncertainty as to the implication of the Security Review Regulations. Neither the Department of Commerce nor other PRC government agencies have issued any detailed rules for the implementation of the Security Review Regulations. If, for example, our potential initial business combination is with a PRC Target Company in any of the sensitive sectors identified above, the transaction will be subject to the Security Review Regulations, and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. We may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue.
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M&A Rules and other PRC regulations may make it more difficult for us to complete an acquisition of a PRC Target Company.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, and other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established a comprehensive set of regulations governing the approval process by which a Chinese company may participate in an acquisition of its assets or its equity interests and by which a Chinese company may obtain public trading of its securities on a securities exchange outside the PRC. The M&A Rules have largely centralized and expanded the approval process to the Ministry of Commerce, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) or its branch offices, the State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and the CSRC.
Depending on the structure of the transaction, the M&A Rules may require the Chinese parties to make a series of applications and supplemental applications to one or more of the aforementioned agencies, some of which must be made within strict time limits and depend on approvals from one or the other of the aforementioned agencies. The application process has been supplemented to require the presentation of economic data concerning a transaction, including appraisals of the business to be acquired and evaluations of the acquirer which will permit the government to assess the economics of a transaction in addition to compliance with legal requirements. If obtained, approvals will have expiration dates by which a transaction must be completed. Completed transactions must also be reported to MOFCOM, and some of the other agencies within a short period after closing or be subject to an unwinding of the transaction. Therefore, acquisitions in China may not be able to be completed because the terms of the transaction may not satisfy aspects of the approval process and may not be completed, even if approved, if they are not consummated within the time permitted by the approvals granted.
Moreover, according to the Anti-Monopoly Law and other relevant PRC regulations, transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds must be cleared by the State Administration for Market Regulation before they can be completed. On July 1, 2015, the National Security Law of China took effect, which provides that China would establish rules and mechanisms to conduct national security review of foreign investments in China that may impact national security. The Foreign Investment Law of China, or the Foreign Investment Law, came into effect on January 1, 2020 and reiterates that China will establish a security review system for foreign investments. On December 19, 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and MOFCOM jointly issued the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investments, or the FISR Measures, which were made according to the National Security Law and the Foreign Investment Law and became effective on January 18, 2021. Under the FISR Measures, foreign investments in military-related industries and certain other industries that affect or may affect national security are subject to the security review conducted through the NDRC and MOFCOM. The FISR Measures further expand the scope of national security review on foreign investment compared to the existing rules, while leaving substantial room for interpretation and speculation.
Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law, the PRC State Council shall promulgate or approve a list of special administrative measures for foreign investments. The Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (Edition 2020) that was promulgated by the NDRC and MOFCOM and took effect in July 2020 is the currently effective negative list and may be amended from time to time. The Foreign Investment Law provides that foreign investors shall not invest in the “prohibited” industries on the negative list, and shall meet such requirements as stipulated under the negative list for making investment in the “restricted” industries. Depending on the specific industry in which the target for our initial business combination operates, our initial business combination may be subject to requirements of the negative list.
If we pursue an initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, or if the combined company after our initial business combination pursues additional strategic acquisitions in China, complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from MOFCOM, any other relevant PRC governmental authorities or their respective local counterparts may hinder our ability to complete such transaction on a timely basis or at all. As a result, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe described in this prospectus, and the combined company’s ability to expand its business or maintain its market share by strategic acquisitions may be limited.
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In addition, the Circular of the General Office of the State Council on the Establishment of Security Review System for the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors that became effective in March 2011, and the Rules on Implementation of Security Review System for the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors issued by MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by MOFCOM. The rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the event we acquire a PRC Target Company, we may be subject to such regulatory reviews, which may impact our ability to complete an initial business combination within the prescribed time period.
The scope of the review we may be subject to includes, but is not limited to, whether the acquisition will impact national security or economic and social stability, and research and development capabilities on key national security related technologies. Foreign investors must submit a security review application to MOFCOM for its review of a contemplated acquisition. If the acquisition is considered within the scope of the security review regulations, MOFCOM will transfer the application to a joint security review committee consisting of members from various PRC government agencies, for further review.
Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete acquisitions could be time consuming. Any required approval processes may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, including but not limited to our ability to complete an initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe described in this prospectus. We may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers the potential investments a national security concern.
Compliance with the PRC Antitrust law may limit our ability to effect our initial business combination.
The PRC Antitrust Law became effective on August 1, 2008. The government authorities in charge of antitrust matters in China are the Antitrust Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation and other antitrust agencies. The PRC Antitrust Law regulates (1) monopoly agreements, including decisions or actions in concert that preclude or impede competition, entered into by business operators; (2) abuse of dominant market position by business operators; and (3) concentration of business operators that may have the effect of precluding or impeding competition. To implement the Antitrust Law, in 2008, the State Council formulated the Rules of the State Council on Declaration Threshold for Concentration of Business Undertakings (as amended on September 18, 2018), pursuant to which concentration of business operators refers to (1) merger with other business operators; (2) gaining control over other business operators through acquisition of equity interest or assets of other business operators; and (3) gaining control over other business operators through exerting influence on other business operators through contracts or other means.
On June 24, 2022, the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to Amend the Antitrust Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the “Decision to Amend the Antitrust Law,” was adopted and became effective on August 1, 2022. The Decision to Amend the Antitrust Law strengthens the regulation on the internet platforms, requiring that companies shall not use data and algorithms, technologies, capital advantages, platform rules and other means to engage in monopolistic conduct and also escalates the administrative penalties for monopolistic conduct and for the failure to notify the antitrust agencies on proposed transactions that will lead to concentration of businesses. The State Council Antitrust Enforcement Agency may order to reinstate the original status prior to the concentration and impose a fine on the operators. Since such provisions are relatively new, uncertain still remains as to the interpretation and implementation of such laws and regulations. The business combination we contemplate may be considered the concentration of business operators, and to the extent required by the Antitrust Law and the criteria established by the State Council, we must file with the antitrust authority under the PRC State Council prior to conducting the contemplated business combination. If the antitrust authority decides not to further investigate whether the contemplated business combination has the effect of precluding or impeding competition or fails to make a decision within 30 days from receipt of relevant materials, we may proceed to consummate the contemplated business combination. If the antitrust authority decides to prohibit the contemplated business combination after further investigation, we must terminate such business combination and would then be forced to either attempt to complete a new business combination or we would be required to return any amounts which were held in the trust account to our shareholders. When we evaluate a potential business combination, we will consider the need to comply with the Antitrust Law and other relevant regulations which may limit our ability to effect an acquisition or may result in our modifying or not pursuing a particular transaction. Since our initial business combination period is within 18 months
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from the closing of this offering, and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering. In that event, we may be required to liquidate.
Our business may become subject to various government regulations and regulatory oversight in China. If we do not receive, complete, or maintain necessary approvals or filings, or we inadvertently conclude that such approvals or filings are not required, or there is a change in the applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations such that we need to make filings or obtain approvals in the future, it may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
As we do not have any operations in China other than the limited activities relating to preparing for this offering and searching for a business combination opportunity subsequent thereto, we believe that we are not required to obtain any material licenses or approvals. We also believe we are not required to obtain approvals from any PRC government authorities, including the CSRC, the CAC or any other government entity, to issue our securities in connection with this offering.
However, the relevant PRC government agencies could reach a different conclusion, and we could be required to obtain such approvals in connection with a potential business combination. If we (i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including levying fines, confiscating our income, revoking our business licenses or operating licenses, discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations, requiring us to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring, restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from this offering to finance our business and operations, and taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business.
Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any or all of the foregoing were to occur, it may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to complete this offering or cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Moreover, we might not be able to complete this offering, list our securities on a U.S. exchange, consummate the initial business combination, or continue to offer securities to investors, which would also materially affect the interests of investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
If the approval of the CSRC is required in connection with this offering, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.
The M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published on its official website procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by any such special purpose vehicle seeking CSRC’s approval of overseas listings. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules and the CSRC approval requirement to offshore special purpose vehicles.
In addition, the Opinions jointly issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council (the “Opinions,”) which were made available to the public on July 6, 2021, call for strengthened regulation over illegal securities activities and supervision of overseas listings by China-based companies and propose to take effective measures, such as promoting the development of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. The Opinions also provide that the State Council will revise provisions regarding the overseas issuance and listing of shares by companies limited by shares and will clarify the duties of domestic regulatory authorities. As of the date of this prospectus, no official guidance and related implementation rules have been issued in relation to the recently issued Opinions and the interpretation and implementation of the Opinions remain unclear at this stage.
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On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures, which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures supersede the prior M&A Rules and clarified and emphasized several aspects, which include but are not limited to: (1) comprehensive determination of the “indirect overseas offering and listing by PRC domestic companies” in compliance with the principle of “substance over form” and particularly, an issuer will be required to go through the filing procedures under the Trial Measures if the following criteria are met at the same time: (a) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year comes from PRC domestic companies, and (b) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China; (2) exemptions from immediate filing requirements for issuers that (a) have already been listed or registered but not yet listed in foreign securities markets, including U.S. markets, prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, (b) are not required to re-perform the regulatory procedures with the relevant overseas regulatory authority or the overseas stock exchange, and (c) whose such overseas securities offering or listing shall be completed before September 30, 2023, provided however that such issuers shall carry out filing procedures as required if they conduct refinancing or are involved in other circumstances that require filing with the CSRC; (3) a negative list of types of issuers banned from listing or offering overseas, such as (a) issuers whose listing or offering overseas has been recognized by the State Council of the PRC as a possible threat to national security, (b) issuers whose affiliates have been recently convicted of bribery and corruption, (c) issuers under ongoing criminal investigations, and (d) issuers under major disputes regarding equity ownership; (4) issuers’ compliance with web security, data security, and other national security laws and regulations; (5) issuers’ filing and reporting obligations, such as the obligation to file with the CSRC after it submits an application for initial public offering to overseas regulators, and the obligation after offering or listing overseas to report to the CSRC material events including a change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuer; and (6) the CSRC’s authority to fine both issuers and their shareholders between 1 and 10 million RMB for failure to comply with the Trial Measures, including failure to comply with filing obligations or committing fraud and misrepresentation.
Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations, we believe that our company is not required to obtain any prior permission from any PRC governmental authorities (including the CSRC) for consummating this offering, given that our company is a blank check company newly incorporated in the Cayman Islands rather than in China and currently we do not own or control any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China. Likewise, while our co-sponsors are controlled by persons residing in Hong Kong, Cayman Sponsor is a Cayman company and Delaware Sponsor is a Delaware company, and neither has any operations in the PRC.
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities. However, there remains uncertainty and no assurance as to how our interpretations to the M&A Rules, the Opinions and the Trial Measures will be interpreted or implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including the CSRC, or that the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities would not promulgate new rules or adopt new interpretation of existing rules that would require us to obtain CSRC or other PRC governmental approvals for this offering or, in the context of an overseas offering or if we decide to consummate the business combination with a PRC Target Company.
If the CSRC or another PRC governmental authority subsequently determines that its approval is needed for this offering, or for our business combination with a PRC Target Company, or approval obtained for the business combination is subsequently rescinded, we may face adverse actions or sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities. For example, we may be required to register with the CSRC following this offering as a result of the Trial Measures. These governmental authorities may delay this offering or a potential business combination, impose fines and penalties, limit our operations in China, or take other actions that could result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination with a China-based business, or materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities or the continued listing on a U.S. exchange. Any changes in the PRC law, regulations, or interpretations may severely affect our operations after this offering.
In addition, if we decide to consummate our business combination with a PRC Target Company, the combined company’s business operations in China through its subsidiaries, would be subject to relevant requirements to obtain applicable licenses from PRC governmental authorities under relevant PRC laws and regulations.
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U.S. regulatory bodies may be limited in their ability to conduct investigations or inspections of the combined company’ operations within China.
The SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the PCAOB, and other U.S. authorities may have difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against the combined company or its directors or executive officers in China following the business combination. Shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including securities law class actions and fraud claims, generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the United States has not been efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators or other relevant authorities, no entity or individual may provide any documents and materials relating to securities business activities to foreign entities or government agencies.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management and directors named in this prospectus based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
Most of our directors and officers have ties to mainland China and/or Hong Kong. Among other aspects, most of our directors have spent a significant portion of their career in mainland China and/or Hong Kong. See “Management and Advisory Board” for detailed disclosure of the biographies of our directors and officers as well as their ties to mainland China and Hong Kong. In addition, following completion of an initial business combination, we may remain a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and some of the post-combined company’s officers and directors may reside in mainland China and Hong Kong. As a result, it may be difficult for you effect service of process upon us or those persons residing in mainland China and Hong Kong. Even with service of process, it may also be difficult to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against these officers and directors in mainland China and Hong Kong.
In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws or those of any U.S. state. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the U.S. that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S.
It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with its counterparts of another country or region to monitor and oversee cross-border securities activities, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the U.S. may not be efficient in the absence of a practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or “Article 177,” which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Article 177 further provides that Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to foreign agencies without prior consent from the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
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Exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to acquire a PRC Target Company and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our initial business combination.
China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 59, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 45. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties.
As such, Circular 19 and Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer the proceeds of this offering to a PRC target company and the use of such proceeds by the PRC target company.
In addition, following our initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the SAFE regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. Currently, foreign invested enterprises (“FIE”) are required to apply to the SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates for FIEs.” Following our initial business combination, we will likely be an FIE as a result of our ownership structure. With such registration certificates, which need to be renewed annually, FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Currency conversion within the scope of the “basic account,” such as remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, can be effected without requiring the approval of the SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as direct investment, loans and securities, still require approval of the SAFE.
We cannot assure you the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose further restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use the proceeds of this offering in an initial business combination with a PRC target company and the use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our shareholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC. Nonetheless, the funds held in our trust account are not held in China, they are held in U.S. dollars in the United States with Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company and therefore shareholder redemption rights would not be impacted.
Increasing oversight by the PRC government and Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) over cybersecurity and data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, could adversely impact our initial business combination, future business and any future offering of securities.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severe and Lawful Crackdown on Illegal Securities Activities and made them available to the public. These Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and supervision of overseas listings by China-based companies. These Opinions proposed to take measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing China-based overseas-listed companies including greater cybersecurity and data privacy protection.
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On July 10, 2021, the CAC published the Circular on Seeking Comments on Cybersecurity Review Measures (Revised Draft for Comments) (the “Review Measures Draft,”) which provides that, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIOs”) that intend to purchase internet products and services, data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to cybersecurity review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC. According to the Review Measures Draft, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The Review Measures Draft further requires that CIIOs and data processing operators that possess personal data of at least one million users must apply for a review by the Cybersecurity Review Office of the PRC before conducting listings in foreign countries. On December 28, 2021, CAC published the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (“CRM,”) which further restates and expands the applicable scope of the cybersecurity review. The revised CRM became effective on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the revised CRM, if a network platform operator holding personal information of over one million users seeks for foreign listing, it must apply for the cybersecurity review, and operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services are also obligated to apply for the cybersecurity review for such purchasing activities. In addition, the revised CRM empowers the cybersecurity review office to initiate cybersecurity review when they believe any particular data processing activities affect or may affect national security. Compliance or failure to comply with such laws could increase the costs of our products and services, could limit their use or adoption, and could otherwise negatively affect our operating results and business.
As of the date of this prospectus, we do not identify ourselves as a CIIO. As these regulations were newly issued and the governmental authorities may further enact detailed rules or guidance with respect to the interpretation and implementation of such regulations, it remains unclear whether we will be identified as a CIIO. Subsequent to our initial business combination, we, or our post-combination entity may be identified as a CIIO, and as such, our business activities could become subject to the regulatory framework of Chinese law. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation. Failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations related to cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection could lead to government enforcement actions, which could include civil or criminal fines or penalties, investigation or sanction by regulatory authorities, private litigation, other liabilities, and/or adverse publicity. Compliance or failure to comply with such laws could increase the costs of our products and services, could limit their use or adoption, and could otherwise negatively affect our operating results and business.
There remains uncertainty as to how the above-mentioned initiatives will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or further detailed implementation and interpretation related thereto. As we do not have any assets or operations at this time in PRC, we may become subject to such processes, procedures and reviews following an initial business combination with a PRC entity. We will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply with any such laws, regulations or rules that are or come into effect, and to minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us. We cannot guarantee, however, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review in the future. During such review, we may be required to suspend our operation or experience other disruptions to our operations. Cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our Company and diversion of our managerial and financial resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions, and results of operations. Furthermore, if any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation require cybersecurity review and clearance or other specific actions to be completed by a potential acquisition target based in the PRC, we may face delays and uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be obtained within the timeframe described in this prospectus for our initial business combination, and we may be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities as a result thereof. In anticipation of the strengthened implementation of cybersecurity laws and regulations and the continued expansion of our business, we face potential risks if we provide or are deemed to provide network products and services to CIIOs, or we are deemed as a CIIO under the PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations. In such case, we would be required to follow the relevant cybersecurity review procedures and could be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC and other relevant PRC regulatory authorities. As of the date of this offering memorandum, we have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review made by the CAC on such basis, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions in such respect.
For the further purposes of regulating data processing activities, safeguarding data security, promoting data development and utilization, protecting the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations, and maintaining national sovereignty, security, and development interests, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, or the SCNPC, published the Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic
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and social development, and the degree of harm it may cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations if such data are tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or illegally used. The appropriate level of protection measures is required to be taken for each respective category of data. Moreover, the Data Security Law provides a national security review procedure for those data activities which affect or may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. In addition, the Data Security Law also provides that any organization or individual within the territory of the PRC shall not provide any foreign judicial body and law enforcement body with any data without the approval of the competent PRC governmental authorities.
In light of recent events indicating greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, some internet and technology companies, may not be willing to list on a U.S. exchange or enter into a definitive business combination agreement with us. Further, we may also have to avoid a business combination with a company with more than one million users’ personal information in China due to the limited timeline for us to complete a business combination.
Companies in China are subject to various risks and costs associated with the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. This data is wide ranging and relates to our investors, employees, contractors and other counterparties and third parties. If we decide to initiate a business combination with a company in China, our compliance obligations include those relating to the Data Protection Act (As Revised) Cayman Islands and the relevant PRC laws in this regard. Non-compliance could result in penalties, delays affecting our ability to timely consummate a business combination, or other significant legal liabilities.
These PRC laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between a holding company and its subsidiaries. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. These laws may have a material adverse effect on companies in the PRC being willing to complete a business combination with us, may make it more difficult for us to identify a PRC based company with which to consummate a business combination, and may materially narrow the selection of companies available in the PRC from which we could otherwise complete a business combination without material adverse effects in the absence of the CAC data security restrictions, rules, and regulations.
If we select an initial business combination with a PRC Target Company, the approval of the Cybersecurity Review Office, the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and/or other PRC authority may be required for our initial business combination under PRC law.
In April 2020, the CAC and certain other PRC regulatory authorities promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which requires that operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On January 4, 2022, the CAC, in conjunction with 12 other government departments issued the New Measures for Cybersecurity Review (the “New Measures.”) The New Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022, amends the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (Draft Revision for Comments) released on July 10, 2021. The New Measures require that certain operators of data processing activities that affect or may affect national security or that handle personal information of more than one million users must apply for cybersecurity review to the Cybersecurity Review Office when they go public abroad. The PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021, imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals that carry out data activities, provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Personal Information Protection Law (the “PIPL”), which took effect on November 1, 2021. The PIPL sets out the regulatory framework for the handling and protection of personal information and the transmission of personal information overseas. If our PRC Target Company involves collecting and retaining internal or customer data, such target might be subject to the relevant cybersecurity laws and regulations, including the PRC Cybersecurity Law and the PIPL, and the cybersecurity review before effecting an initial business combination. The cybersecurity review might impact the timetable of our initial business combination and the certainty of our initial business combination, if the target company we have identified is subject to the aforementioned cybersecurity related laws and regulations.
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Risks Relating to our Management Team
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 shareholders 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 shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’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.
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. Past performance by our management team is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. In the course of their respective careers, members of our management team have been involved in businesses and deals that were unsuccessful. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management team’s or businesses associated with them as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or is likely to, generate going forward.
We may seek business combination opportunities in industries or sectors that may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.
We will consider an initial business combination outside of our management’s areas of expertise if an initial 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 an initial business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue an initial 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 shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We 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 the members of our advisory board. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers, directors and members of our advisory board, 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.
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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 an initial 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. 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 and Advisory Board.”
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 completion 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 or entities. 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 an initial business combination opportunity to such entity. 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 memorandum and articles of association will provide that to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we renounce any interest or expectancy of us in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. In addition, our co-sponsors 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 ventures 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.
Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion 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. Our co-sponsors and officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business. Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. 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 memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be
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aware of, see “Management and Advisory Board — Management,” “Management and Advisory Board — Advisory Board,” “Management and Advisory Board — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Members of our management team have significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, are, or may become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including related to those companies or otherwise. The defense or prosecution of these matters could be time-consuming and could divert our management’s attention, and may have an adverse effect on us, which may impede our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
During the course of their careers, members of our management team have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. As a result of their involvement and positions in these companies, certain of those persons have been, are or may in the future become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including relating to the business affairs of such companies, transactions entered into by such companies, or otherwise. Individual members of our management team and board of directors also may become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings involving claims or allegations related to or as a result of their personal conduct, either in their capacity as a corporate officer or director or otherwise, and may be personally named in such actions and potentially subject to personal liability. Any such liability may or may not be covered by insurance and/or indemnification, depending on the facts and circumstances. The defense or prosecution of these matters could be time-consuming. Any litigation, investigations or other proceedings and the potential outcomes of such actions may divert the attention and resources of our management team and board of directors away from identifying and selecting a target business or businesses for our initial business combination and may negatively affect our reputation, which may impede our ability to complete an initial business combination.
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, 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 an initial business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, our directors or 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 an initial 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 shareholders’ best interest. If this were the case, it would be a breach of their fiduciary duties to us as a matter of Cayman Islands law and we or our shareholders might have a claim against such individuals for infringing on our shareholders’ rights. See the section titled “Description of Securities — Certain Differences in Corporate Law — Shareholder Suits” for further information on the ability to bring such claims. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.
We may engage in an initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our co-sponsors, executive officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our co-sponsors, executive officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our co-sponsors, 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 and Advisory Board — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our co-sponsors, 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 an initial business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated
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entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for an initial 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 or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of an initial business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our co-sponsors, 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 shareholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
We may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as financial 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 deferred commissions that will released from the trust only on a 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 one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing financial advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing. We may pay such underwriter or its affiliate 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 any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering. The underwriters are also entitled to receive deferred commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The underwriters’ or their respective affiliates’ financial interests tied to the consummation of an initial 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.
We may engage one or more affiliates of our co-sponsors, officers or directors or their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with 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 one or more affiliates of our co-sponsors, officers or directors or their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets or providing financial advisory services. We may pay such affiliates fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation. Any such affiliates’ financial interests tied to the consummation of an initial 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 advising on, sourcing and consummating of an initial business combination.
Since our co-sponsors, non-sponsor managing members, 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 December 5, 2024, Cayman Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain expenses on our behalf in consideration of 4,312,500 founder shares for a purchase price of approximately $0.006 per share. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). Prior to the initial investment in the company
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of $25,000 by Cayman 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 sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing, through Delaware Sponsor, the private placement units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, Delaware Sponsor will issue non-managing membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the sponsor non-managing members reflecting interests in an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor.
The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 12,650,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after this offering (assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares). Up to 550,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited 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 co-sponsors, Chenghe Investment III Limited and Chenghe Investment III LLC, have committed to purchase an aggregate of 265,000 private placement units (or 281,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,650,000 (or $2,815,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). The underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 private placement units (or 126,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 (or $1,265,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement units will also be worthless if we do not complete 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 end of the completion window nears, which is the deadline for our completion of an initial business combination.
Our letter agreement with our co-sponsors, officers and directors may be amended without shareholder approval.
Our letter agreement with our co-sponsors, officers and directors contain provisions relating to transfer restrictions of our founder shares and private units, indemnification of the trust account, waiver of redemption rights and participation in liquidating distributions from the trust account. The letter agreement may be amended without shareholder approval (although releasing the parties from the restriction not to transfer the founder shares for 180 days following the date of this prospectus requires the prior written consent of the representative). While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to the letter agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to the letter agreement. Any such amendments to the letter agreement would not require approval from our shareholders and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
The ownership interest of our co-sponsors may change, and our co-sponsors may divest their ownership interest in us before identifying a business combination, which may deprive us of key personnel.
Delaware Sponsor is a limited liability company of which Cayman Sponsor is the managing member and holds voting and investment discretion with respect to the founder shares held of record by Delaware Sponsor, and any our officers or directors may, in the future, although there is no present intent to do so, own individual economic interests in Cayman Sponsor. However, there is no contractual restriction on Cayman Sponsor’s ability to share, sell or otherwise dispose of part or all of the interests in Cayman Sponsor or held by Cayman Sponsor. As a result, there is a risk that Delaware Sponsor (or Cayman Sponsor) may divest its (or Cayman Sponsor’s or our officers’ and directors’) ownership or economic interests in us or in the Cayman Sponsor before a business combination target is identified, including
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through the ability to transfer the founder shares, subject to the restrictions contained in the letter agreement, which would likely result in the Company’s loss of certain key personnel, including Shibin Wang, Lyle Wang, Houston Li and Richard Li. In addition, there can be no assurance that any replacement sponsor, key personnel or advisors would successfully identify a business combination target for us or, even if one is one so identified, successfully complete such business combination
The securities held by Delaware Sponsor are expected to only be distributed directly to the members of the Delaware Sponsor upon the consummation of our initial business combination, provided that such members agree to become subject to the applicable transfer restrictions with respect to such securities, including the letter agreement. Indirect transfers of the securities held by the Delaware Sponsor, such as to another member of Delaware Sponsor or their affiliate, a family member or a new member of the sponsor, may be permitted with the prior consent of Cayman Sponsor, the manager of Delaware Sponsor, so long as such transfer complies with the applicable transfer restrictions with respect to such securities described in the table above to the same extent as the party originally subject to such restrictions. See “Principal Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units.”
While non-managing members will not be a direct party to the letter agreement discussed, as a result of their ownership of membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, they will be bound by the restrictions set forth above with respect to their allocated founder shares, the private placement units and securities underlying the private placement units (including the restriction on transfer of their membership interests because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers). However, the non-managing sponsor investors will not be subject to transfer restrictions or a lock-up agreement on any public units, public Class A ordinary shares or public warrants that they may purchase in this offering pursuant to the expressions of interest described herein or thereafter.
Risks Relating to our Securities
We may issue our shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than the prevailing market price of our shares at that time.
In connection with our initial business combination, we may issue shares 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. The purpose of such issuances will be to enable us to provide sufficient liquidity to the post-business combination entity. 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.
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 warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public shareholders 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 Class A ordinary shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the completion window, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. If we are required to wind up, liquidate the trust account and distribute such amount therein, pro rata, to our public shareholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act. In that case, public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond the completion window before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
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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 plan to apply for listing our units have been approved for listing on Nasdaq on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our Class A ordinary shares and warrants on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to this offering we meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in Nasdaq 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, we must maintain a minimum average global market capitalization and a minimum number of holders of our securities. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and we must have 400 round lot holders of our Class A ordinary shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination. 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 Class A ordinary shares are a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A ordinary shares 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 our units and eventually our Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants will qualify as covered securities under the statute. Although the states are pre-empted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. 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.
You will not be permitted to exercise your warrants unless we register and qualify the underlying Class A ordinary shares or certain exemptions are available.
If the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of the warrants is not registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, holders of warrants will not be entitled to exercise such warrants and such warrants may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the Class A ordinary shares included in the units.
We are registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part because the warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, which may be within one year of this offering. However, because the warrants will be exercisable until their expiration date of up to five years after the completion of our initial business combination, in order to comply with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act following the consummation of our initial business combination under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best
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efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement covering the registration under the Securities Act of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and thereafter will use our best efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following our initial business combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order.
If the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, under the terms of the warrant agreement, holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and, instead, will be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
In no event will warrants be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration or qualification is available.
If our Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, not permit holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants to do so for cash and, instead, require them to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act; in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement or register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities (other than upon a cashless exercise as described above) or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
You may only be able to exercise your public warrants on a “cashless basis” under certain circumstances, and if you do so, you will receive fewer Class A ordinary shares from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
The warrant agreement provides that in the following circumstances holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do for cash and will, instead, be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act: (i) if the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement; (ii) if we have so elected and the Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act; and (iii) if we have so elected and we call the public warrants for redemption. If you exercise your public warrants on a cashless basis, you would pay the warrant exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Class A ordinary shares (as defined in the next sentence) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” is the average reported closing price of the Class A ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent or on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, as applicable. As a result, you would receive fewer Class A ordinary shares from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
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The grant of registration rights to our initial shareholders and holders of our private placement 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 Class A ordinary shares.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our initial shareholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the Class A ordinary shares into which founder shares are convertible, holders of our private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants and holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such shares, warrants or the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of such warrants. The registration rights will be exercisable with respect to the founder shares and the private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such private placement warrants. 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 Class A ordinary shares. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude.
This is because the shareholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares that is expected when the ordinary shares owned by our initial shareholders, holders of our private placement units or holders of our working capital units (if any) or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
We may issue additional Class A ordinary shares or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon the conversion of the founder shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorize the issuance of up to 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 488,625,000 and 46,333,333 (assuming in each case that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option and the forfeiture of 550,000 Class B ordinary shares) authorized but unissued Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, respectively, available for issuance which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants or shares issuable upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares. The Class B ordinary shares are (unless otherwise provided in our initial business combination agreement) automatically convertible into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Immediately after this offering, there will be no preference shares issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional Class A ordinary shares or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions as set forth therein. However, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities (other than the Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion of the Class B ordinary 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 on any initial business combination. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, like all provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended with a shareholder vote. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preference shares:
• may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering;
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• may subordinate the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares if preference shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A ordinary shares;
• could cause a change in control if a substantial number of Class A ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A ordinary shares and/or warrants.
Our co-sponsors paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from our co-sponsors’ purchase of our Class B ordinary shares.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the Class A ordinary shares and none to the warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per Class A ordinary share after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our co-sponsors 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 warrants included in the units, you and the other public shareholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 109.00% (or $10.90 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $(0.90) (assuming a maximum redemption scenario) and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. For more information on dilution, the assumptions underlying the expected dilution you will experience in connection with this offering and the dilutive impact of different redemption scenarios, please see the section entitled “Dilution” in this prospectus. This dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the founder shares result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the founder shares at the time of our initial business combination and would become exacerbated to the extent that public shareholders seek redemptions from the trust for their public shares. In addition, because of the anti-dilution rights of the founder shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A ordinary shares.
Unlike some other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies, our initial shareholders will receive additional Class A ordinary shares if we issue certain shares to consummate an initial business combination.
The founder shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis (unless otherwise provided in our initial business combination agreement), subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all founder shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 25% of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion, including the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of an initial business combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities or rights exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement units issued to Cayman Sponsor or our officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans, provided that such conversion of founder shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis. This is different than some other similarly structured special purpose acquisition companies in which the initial shareholders will only be issued an aggregate of 20% of the total number of shares to be outstanding prior to our initial business combination.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires
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the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the warrants with the consent of at least a majority of the then outstanding warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
If (i) we issue additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share, (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination, and (iii) the Market Value of our Class A ordinary shares is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem all of the outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and for certain issuances of Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination as described elsewhere in this prospectus) on each of 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to proper notice of such redemption provided that on the date we give notice of redemption. We will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to (i) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination since such initial business combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval requirement, including foreign investment regulations and review by government entities such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS,”) or may be ultimately prohibited.
Our initial business combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval requirements by governmental entities, or ultimately prohibited. For example, CFIUS has authority to review direct or indirect foreign investments in U.S. companies. Among other things, CFIUS is empowered to require certain foreign investors to make mandatory filings, to charge filing fees related to such filings, and to self-initiate national security reviews of foreign direct and indirect investments in U.S. companies if the parties to that investment choose not to file voluntarily. In the case that CFIUS determines an investment to be a threat to national security, CFIUS has the power to unwind or place restrictions on the investment. Whether CFIUS has jurisdiction to review an acquisition or investment transaction depends on — among other factors — the nature and structure of the transaction, including the level of beneficial ownership interest and the nature of any information or governance rights involved. For example, investments that result in “control” of a U.S. business by foreign person always are subject to CFIUS jurisdiction. CFIUS’s expanded jurisdiction under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 and implementing regulations that
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became effective on February 13, 2020 further includes investments that do not result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person but afford certain foreign investors certain information or governance rights in a U.S. business that has a nexus to “critical technologies,” “critical infrastructure” and/or “sensitive personal data.” Our co-sponsors are currently controlled by Richard Li, a Hong Kong citizen and a Hong Kong resident, and will own approximately 25.8% of our outstanding shares upon completion of this offering. Because we may be considered a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, any proposed business combination between us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review.
If a particular proposed initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit to CFIUS review on a voluntary basis, or to proceed with the transaction without submitting to CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the transaction. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our proposed initial business combination, impose conditions with respect to such initial business combination or request the President of the United States to order us to divest all or a portion of the U.S. target business of our initial business combination that we acquired without first obtaining CFIUS approval, which may limit the attractiveness of, delay or prevent us from pursuing certain target companies that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues. In addition, certain federally licensed businesses may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership.
The process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period required under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, including as a result of extended regulatory review of a potential initial business combination, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account and as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such event, our shareholders will miss the opportunity to benefit from an investment in a target company and the appreciation in value of such investment. Additionally, our warrants will be worthless.
Our warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing warrants to purchase 5,500,000 Class A ordinary shares (or 6,325,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) as part of the units offered by this prospectus and, simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing in a private placement an aggregate of 375,000 (or 408,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement units, which include private placement warrants to purchase an aggregate of 187,500 Class A ordinary shares (or 204,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $11.50 per share. In addition, if Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors makes any working capital loans, such lender may convert those loans into up to an additional 150,000 private placement units, at the price of $10.00 per unit. To the extent we issue ordinary shares to effectuate a business transaction, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Such warrants, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and reduce the value of the Class A ordinary shares issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business transaction or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
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The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination and our co-sponsors are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the trading price of our ordinary shares materially declines.
We are offering our units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit and the amount in our trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share, implying an initial value of $10.00 per public share. However, prior to this offering, our co-sponsors paid an original nominal aggregate purchase price of $25,000 for the founder shares, or approximately $0.006 per share. As a result, the value of your public shares may be significantly diluted upon the consummation of our initial business combination, when the founder shares are converted into public shares. As a result, our co-sponsors are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us even if we select and consummate an initial business combination that causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to decline, while our public shareholders who purchased their units in this offering could lose significant value in their public shares. Our co-sponsors may therefore be economically incentivized to consummate an initial business combination with a riskier, weaker performing or less established target business than would be the case if our co-sponsors had paid the same per share price for the founder shares as our public shareholders paid for their public shares. The sponsor non-managing members will share in any appreciation of the founder shares through their membership interests in Delaware Sponsor if we successfully complete a business combination. Accordingly, sponsor non-managing members’ interests in the founder shares owned by them indirectly through their membership interests in Delaware Sponsor may provide them with an incentive to vote any public shares they own in favor of a business combination, and make a substantial profit on such interests, even if the business combination is with a target that ultimately declines in value and is not profitable for other public shareholders.
For example, the following table shows the dilutive effect of the founder shares on the implied value of the public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, assuming that our equity value at that time is $105,600,000, which is the amount we would have for our initial business combination in the trust account after payment of up to $4,400,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised, no interest is earned on the funds held in the trust account, and no public shares are redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and without taking into account any other potential impacts on our valuation at such time, such as the trading price of our public shares, the business combination transaction costs, any equity issued or cash paid to the target’s sellers or other third parties, or the target’s business itself, including its assets, liabilities, management and prospects, as well as the value of our public and private units. At such valuation, each of our Class A ordinary shares would have an implied value of approximately $7.02 per share upon consummation of our initial business combination, which would be an approximate 25.8% decrease as compared to the initial implied value per public share of $9.60.
|
Public shares |
|
11,000,000 |
|
|
Private placement units |
|
375,000 |
|
|
Founder shares |
|
3,666,667 |
|
|
Total shares |
|
15,041,667 |
|
|
Total funds in trust available for initial business combination (less deferred underwriting commissions) |
$ |
105,600,000 |
|
|
Public shareholders’ investment per Class A ordinary share |
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
Co-sponsors’ investment per Class B ordinary share |
$ |
0.006 |
|
|
Initial implied value per public share(1) |
$ |
9.60 |
|
|
Implied value per public share upon consummation of initial business combination |
$ |
7.02 |
____________
(1) Initial implied value per public share is defined as the funds available for the initial business combination (assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and following payment of the underwriters’ deferred fee) divided by the public shares issued of 11,000,000 (assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised).
The value of the founder shares following completion of our initial business combination is likely to be substantially higher than the nominal price paid for them, even if the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares at such time is substantially less than $10.00 per share.
Upon the closing of this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, our co-sponsors and sponsor non-managing members (if any) will have invested in us an aggregate of $2,675,000 (or $2,840,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full), comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the founder shares and the $2,650,000 (or $2,815,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)
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purchase price for the private placement units. Assuming a trading price of $7.02 per share upon consummation of our initial business combination, the 3,666,667 founder shares would have an aggregate value of $25,740,000. Even if the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares was as low as approximately $0.66 per share, and the private placement units were worthless, the value of the founder shares would be greater than our co-sponsors’ initial investment in us. As a result, our co-sponsors are, and our sponsor non-managing members (if any) are, likely to be able to recoup their investment in us and make a substantial profit on that investment, even if our public shares have lost significant value. Accordingly, our management team, which owns interests in Cayman Sponsor and controls Delaware Sponsor, may have an economic incentive that differs from that of the public shareholders to pursue and consummate an initial business combination rather than to liquidate and to return all of the cash in the trust to the public shareholders, even if that business combination were with a riskier or less-established target business. For the foregoing reasons, you should consider our management team’s financial incentive to complete an initial business combination when evaluating whether to redeem your shares prior to or in connection with the initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor non-managing members (if any) may have different interests than other public shareholders due to their additional upfront investment in the company and their membership interests in Delaware Sponsor.
Because each unit contains one-half of one warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other special purpose acquisition companies.
Each unit contains one-half of one warrant. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, no fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units, and only whole units will trade. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the warrant holder. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one ordinary share and one warrant to purchase one whole share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of an initial business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one-half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if it included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
Holders of Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on continuing our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands.
Holders of Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on continuing our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands prior to the closing of a business combination.
Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York located in the County 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 public warrants, as applicable, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement will each provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York located in the County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) in each case 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. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Investors cannot waive compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder as a result of these exclusive forum provisions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant 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 warrants, as applicable, shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, as applicable, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York located in the County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”)
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in the name of any holder of our warrants, as applicable, 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, and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such action brought in such court to enforce the forum provisions by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant 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. Warrant holders who are unable to bring their claims in the judicial forum of their choosing may be required to incur additional costs in pursuit of actions which are subject to our choice-of-forum provisions. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant 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.
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 warrants 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 Class A ordinary shares and warrants 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. Shareholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal courts may be limited.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or officers.
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Our corporate affairs will be governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. We will also be subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are different from what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and certain states, such as Delaware, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a Federal court of the United States.
We have been advised by Ogier, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce such foreign money judgment without re-examination or relitigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided that (1) the U.S. court issuing the judgment is of competent jurisdiction; (2) the U.S. Judgment is final and imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum; (3) the judgment given by the U.S. Court was not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty or similar fiscal or revenue obligation of the company; (4) in obtaining judgment there was no fraud on part of the person in whose favor judgment was given or on part of the court; and (5) recognition or enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to public policy or natural justice in the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States company.
General Risk Factors
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 Cayman Islands 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 an initial 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.
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.
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Our search for an initial business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the occurrence of a natural disaster.
Our business could be adversely affected by severe weather conditions and natural disasters. Any of such occurrences could cause severe disruption to our daily operations, and may even require a temporary closure of our operations across one or more markets. Such closures may disrupt our business operations and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our operations could also be disrupted if our third-party service providers, business partners or acquisition targets were affected by such natural disasters. If the disruptions posed by such events continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate an initial business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
We may be a passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC,” which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder (as defined in the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations-U.S. Holders”) of our Class A ordinary shares or warrants, the U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Our PFIC status for our current and subsequent taxable years may depend on whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”). Depending on the particular circumstances the application of the start-up exception may be subject to uncertainty, and there cannot be any assurance that we will qualify for the start-up exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurances with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Moreover, if we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we may endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a “qualified electing fund” election, but we are under no requirement to do so and there can be no assurance that we will timely provide such required information, and such election is, in any event, unavailable with respect to our warrants. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the Class A ordinary shares and the one-half of a warrant included in each unit could be challenged by the IRS or courts. In addition, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of warrants included in the units we are issuing in this offering are unclear under current law. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our Class A ordinary shares suspend the running of a U.S. Holder’s (as defined in section titled “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Consideration — U.S. Holders”) holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of Class A ordinary shares is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered “qualified dividend income” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the section titled “Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of the U.S. federal income tax considerations of an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when acquiring, owning or disposing of our securities.
We may reincorporate in or transfer by way of continuation to another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on shareholders or warrant holders.
We may, in connection with our initial business combination and subject to requisite shareholder approval under the Companies Act and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, reincorporate in or transfer by way of continuation to the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located or in another jurisdiction.
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The transaction may require a shareholder or warrant holder to recognize taxable income in the jurisdiction in which the shareholder or warrant holder is a tax resident or, in the case of a transparent entity, in which its members are resident. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders or warrant holders to pay such taxes. Shareholders or warrant holders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after the reincorporation.
After our initial business combination, it is possible that a majority of our directors and officers will live outside the United States and all of our assets will be located outside the United States; therefore, investors may not be able to enforce federal securities laws or their other legal rights.
It is possible that after our initial business combination, a majority of our directors and officers will reside outside of the United States and all of our assets will be located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult, or in some cases not possible, for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon all of our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties on our directors and officers under United States laws.
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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in 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 ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals to or 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.
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Provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A ordinary shares and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that shareholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preference shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the courts of the Cayman Islands will be the exclusive forums for certain disputes between us and our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for complaints against us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in us, including but not limited to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any of our current or former director, officer or other employee to us or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States of America) and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. The forum selection provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will not apply to actions or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States of America, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provide that, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that we may have, each of our shareholders acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly we shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum.
This choice of forum provision may increase a shareholder’s cost and limit the shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any of our shares or other securities, whether by transfer, sale, operation of law or otherwise, shall be deemed to have notice of and have irrevocably agreed and consented to these provisions. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. It is possible that a court could find this type of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find this provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could have adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and operations from outside the United States, and a majority of our assets will be located within the United States immediately after this offering. Our U.S. agent for service of process is Cogency Global Inc. However, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on us or our officers or directors within the United States in a way that will permit a U.S. court to have jurisdiction over us. Further, the majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after we consummate our initial business combination.
Cayman Islands
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under the law of the Cayman Islands are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands, as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are considered persuasive authority but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under the law of the Cayman Islands are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States, such as in the State of Delaware. In particular, the Cayman Islands have a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would:
• recognize or enforce against us judgments of U.S. courts based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and
• entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
Ogier, our counsel with respect to the laws of the Cayman Islands, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce against us, judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State in the United States; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State in the United States. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands may recognize and enforce in certain circumstances without any re-examination or re-litigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided such judgement: (i) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; (iii) is final; (iv) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and (v) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or public policy of the Cayman Islands. Subject to the aforementioned limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
PRC, Hong Kong
Most of our executive officers and directors are located in Hong Kong, or have ties to the PRC and/or Hong Kong. Specifically, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman is a Chinese citizen, and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Because of such ties of our officers and directors to mainland China or Hong Kong, we may be governed by PRC laws and regulations. In addition, we may seek to acquire
117
a company that is based in mainland China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination, in which circumstance the uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations would apply to us regardless of whether we have a VIE structure or direct ownership structure post-business combination.
Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties, which may make it difficult for investors to bring actions against our executive officers and directors and obtain enforceable judgments. In addition, the PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. The PRC legal system is also based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Further, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
There may be difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us based on foreign laws. Specifically, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Due to the lack of reciprocity and treaties between the United States and some of these foreign jurisdictions, and cost and time constraints, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against the combined company or some of the combined company’s officers and directors judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. Even with the proposed service of process, it may also be difficult to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against these officers and directors.
In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the mainland China or Hong Kong would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against the officers and directors predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
• In the PRC, the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment by us against the officers or directors or the future combined company if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or the public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.
• In Hong Kong, judgment of United States courts against us or against our directors or executive officers residing in Hong Kong, including those based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, will not be directly enforceable in Hong Kong. There are currently no treaties or other arrangements providing for reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments between Hong Kong and the United States. However, the common law permits an action to be brought upon a foreign judgment. In other words, a foreign judgment itself may form the basis of a cause of action since the judgment may be regarded as creating a debt between the parties to it. In a common law action for enforcement of a foreign judgment in Hong Kong, the enforcement is subject to various conditions, including but not limited to, that the foreign judgment is a final judgment conclusive upon the merits of the claim, the judgment is for a liquidated amount in a civil matter and not in respect of taxes, fines, penalties, or similar charges, the proceedings
118
in which the judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice, and the enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy of Hong Kong. Such a judgment must be for a fixed sum and must also come from a “competent” court as determined by the private international law rules applied by the Hong Kong courts. The defenses that are available to a defendant in a common law action brought on the basis of a foreign judgment include a lack of jurisdiction, breach of natural justice, fraud, and contrary to public policy. However, a separate legal action for debt must be commenced in Hong Kong in order to recover such debt from the judgment debtor.
Furthermore, there would be additional costs and issues with bringing an original action in foreign courts against the combined company or the officers and directors to enforce liabilities based upon the U.S. Federal securities laws, and they still may be fruitless.
The above discussion is based on our management’s understanding of the current PRC and Hong Kong laws, rules, regulations and local market practices and we cannot assure you that our management’s understanding is correct. Given the nature of our limited business activities prior to our initial business combination, we did not retain a PRC or Hong Kong legal counsel for purpose of this offering and consequently we did not rely on the advice of such counsel. If we begin our business combination process with a mainland China or Hong Kong-based target, we expect to retain a PRC or Hong Kong legal counsel who will advise us and provide its opinion of counsel relating to the enforceability of civil liabilities and other matters and we cannot assure you that the PRC legal counsel will reach the same conclusion as our management’s assessment above. See “Risk Factors — You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management and directors named in this prospectus based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China” on page 94 of this prospectus and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries” on page 74 of this prospectus.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may find it more difficult to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on individual directors and executive officers, and may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.
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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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USE OF PROCEEDS
We are offering 11,000,000 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 units will be used as set forth in the following table.
|
Without |
Over-allotment |
|||||||
|
Gross proceeds |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1) |
$ |
110,000,000 |
|
$ |
126,500,000 |
|
||
|
Gross proceeds from private placement units offered in the private placement |
|
3,750,000 |
|
|
4,080,000 |
|
||
|
Total gross proceeds |
$ |
113,750,000 |
|
$ |
130,580,000 |
|
||
|
Estimated offering expenses(2) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Underwriting commissions (2.0% of gross proceeds from units offered to public, excluding deferred portion)(3) |
$ |
2,200,000 |
|
$ |
2,530,000 |
|
||
|
Legal fees and expenses |
|
300,000 |
|
|
300,000 |
|
||
|
Printing and engraving expenses |
|
30,000 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
||
|
Accounting fees and expenses |
|
40,000 |
|
|
40,000 |
|
||
|
SEC/FINRA Expenses |
|
85,208 |
|
|
85,208 |
|
||
|
Travel and road show |
|
20,000 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
||
|
Nasdaq listing and filing fees |
|
55,000 |
|
|
55,000 |
|
||
|
Trustee and transfer agent fees |
|
40,000 |
|
|
40,000 |
|
||
|
Structuring services fee |
|
50,000 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
||
|
Miscellaneous |
|
9,792 |
|
|
9,792 |
|
||
|
Total offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) |
$ |
630,000 |
|
$ |
630,000 |
|
||
|
Proceeds after offering expenses |
$ |
110,920,000 |
|
$ |
127,420,000 |
|
||
|
Held in trust account(3) |
$ |
110,000,000 |
|
$ |
126,500,000 |
|
||
|
% of public offering size |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
||
|
Not held in trust account |
$ |
920,000 |
|
$ |
920,000 |
|
||
The following table shows the use of the approximately $920,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account (assuming the underwriters do not exercise their overallotment option and excluding permitted withdrawals)(4)
|
Amount |
% of Total |
|||||
|
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination(5) |
$ |
250,000 |
27.2 |
% |
||
|
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations and Nasdaq and other regulatory fees |
$ |
200,000 |
21.7 |
% |
||
|
Directors and officers insurance |
$ |
200,000 |
21.7 |
% |
||
|
Payment for office space, secretarial and administrative services(6) |
$ |
270,000 |
29.4 |
% |
||
|
Total |
$ |
920,000 |
100.0 |
% |
||
____________
(1) Includes amounts payable to public shareholders 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 Cayman Sponsor of up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $630,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses other than underwriting commissions. 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. As of March 31, 2025, we had borrowed $38,427 under the promissory note issued to Cayman Sponsor.
(3) The underwriters have agreed to defer underwriting commissions of up to 4.0% of the gross proceeds of the units sold in the offering including pursuant to the over-allotment option. Accordingly, upon and concurrently with the completion of our initial business combination, up to $4,400,000 (or up to $5,060,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) which constitutes the underwriters’ deferred commissions on the base offering and the overallotment option, if applicable, will be paid to the underwriters based on the percentage of funds remaining in the trust account after redemptions of public shares from the funds held in the trust account. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of an initial business combination. The remaining funds, less amounts released to the trustee to pay
121
redeeming shareholders, 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. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
(4) 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 an initial 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 which we may access for permitted withdrawals. 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. Additionally, when we determine (no later than 18 months from the closing of this offering) to hold the funds in the trust account as cash or in demand deposit accounts, the amount of interest we may receive would likely be less than this amount. To the extent that the amount in the table above is not sufficient to cover our actual expenses for the applicable category, we may pay such expenses by withdrawing interests from the trust account to the extent permitted or secure additional funding from our co-sponsors, officers and directors in the form of interest-free loans.
(5) 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.
(6) Represents payments for office space, secretarial and administrative services for eighteen months following the consummation of this offering.
Nasdaq rules provide that at least
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 permitted withdrawals, 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 the completion window, subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ 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
122
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 memorandum and articles of association provide that, following this offering and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will be prohibited from issuing additional securities (other than the Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion of the Class B ordinary 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 memorandum and articles of association to (x) extend the time we have to consummate an initial business combination beyond the completion window or (y) amend the foregoing provisions.
We believe that amounts not held in trust combined with permitted withdrawals 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 an initial business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial 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 co-sponsors, 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 Cayman 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.
Prior to the closing of this offering, Cayman Sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 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 December 31, 2026 or the closing of this offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the $630,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated to the payment of offering expenses.
We have engaged CBC Securities to serve as co-manager for this offering. As part of their compensation as co-manager they will receive a structuring fee in connection with this offering. As consideration for providing such services, we have agreed to pay CBC Securities a $50,000 fee. CBC Securities will also receive an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our co-sponsors or an affiliate of our co-sponsors or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds on a non-interest bearing basis 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 of the post business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement 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 Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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.
123
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. A Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or the share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if following such payment the company would be unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a share 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 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares). 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.
124
DILUTION
The difference between the public offering price per Class A ordinary share, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement units, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A ordinary shares after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale and exercise of warrants, including the private placement units, which would cause the actual dilution to the public shareholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of Class A ordinary shares which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding Class A ordinary shares.
After giving effect to the sale of 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (or 12,650,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), the sale of the private placement units and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book deficit at March 31, 2025 would have been $(3,623,724) or $(0.90) per share (or $(4,167,224) or $(0.90) per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), representing an immediate decrease in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares that may be redeemed for cash, or 12,650,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of $(0.82) per share (or $(0.82) per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to our initial shareholders as of the date of this prospectus. Total dilution to public shareholders from this offering will be $10.90 per share (or $10.90 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).
The following table illustrates the dilution to the public shareholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units or the private placement units:
|
Without |
With |
|||||||
|
Public offering price |
$ |
10.00 |
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
||
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering |
|
(0.08 |
) |
|
(0.08 |
) |
||
|
Decrease attributable to public shareholders |
|
(0.82 |
) |
|
(0.82 |
) |
||
|
Pro forma net tangible book deficit after this offering and the sale of the private placement units |
|
(0.90 |
) |
|
(0.90 |
) |
||
|
Dilution to public shareholders |
$ |
10.90 |
|
$ |
10.90 |
|
||
|
Percentage of dilution to public shareholders |
|
109.00 |
% |
|
109.00 |
% |
||
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 $110,000,000 because holders 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 shareholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals)), divided by the number of Class A ordinary shares sold in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial shareholders and the public shareholders:
|
|
Total Consideration |
Average |
||||||||||||
|
Number |
Percentage |
Amount |
Percentage |
|||||||||||
|
Initial Shareholders(1) |
3,666,667 |
24.4 |
% |
$ |
25,000 |
0.02 |
% |
$ |
0.006 |
|||||
|
Private Placement Shares(2) |
375,000 |
2.5 |
% |
|
3,750,000 |
3.30 |
% |
|
10.00 |
|||||
|
Public Shareholders |
11,000,000 |
73.1 |
% |
$ |
110,000,000 |
96.68 |
% |
$ |
10.00 |
|||||
|
15,041,667 |
100.00 |
% |
$ |
113,775,000 |
100.00 |
% |
|
|||||||
____________
(1) Assumes that 550,000 founder shares are forfeited after the closing of this offering in the event the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. Does not include shares issuable on conversion of warrants.
(2) Indicates the 375,000 shares included in the private placement units.
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The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
|
Without |
With |
|||||||
|
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering |
$ |
(357,935 |
) |
$ |
(357,935 |
) |
||
|
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement units(1) |
|
110,920,000 |
|
|
127,420,000 |
|
||
|
Plus: Offering costs accrued for or paid in advance, excluded from tangible book deficit before this offering |
|
330,711 |
|
|
330,711 |
|
||
|
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions(2) |
|
(4,400,000 |
) |
|
(5,060,000 |
)(3) |
||
|
Less: Over-allotment Liability |
|
(116,500 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
|
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to possible redemption(3) |
|
(110,000,000 |
) |
|
(126,500,000 |
) |
||
|
$ |
(3,623,724 |
) |
$ |
(4,167,224 |
) |
|||
|
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Class B ordinary shares outstanding prior to this offering |
|
4,216,667 |
|
|
4,216,667 |
|
||
|
Class B ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised |
|
(550,000 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
|
Class A ordinary shares included in the units offered |
|
11,000,000 |
|
|
12,650,000 |
|
||
|
Class A ordinary shares included in the private placement |
|
375,000 |
|
|
408,000 |
|
||
|
Less: Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
|
(11,000,000 |
) |
|
(12,650,000 |
) |
||
|
|
4,041,667 |
|
|
4,624,667 |
|
|||
____________
(1) Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $630,000 and underwriting commissions of $2,200,000 (excluding deferred underwriting fees).
(2) Each of the underwriters reserves the right in its sole discretion to waive its respective portion of the deferred underwriting commissions at any time prior to the initial business combination by providing written notice to us.
(3) If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants 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 Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. See “Proposed Business — Effecting Our Initial Business Combination — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.”
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at March 31, 2025, and as adjusted to give effect to the filing of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the sale of our units in this offering and the sale of the private placement units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option:
|
March 31, 2025 |
||||||||
|
Actual |
As Adjusted |
|||||||
|
Note payable to related party(1) |
$ |
38,427 |
|
$ |
— |
|
||
|
Over-allotment liability |
|
— |
|
|
116,500 |
|
||
|
Deferred underwriting commissions(2) |
|
— |
|
|
4,400,000 |
|
||
|
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; -0- and 11,000,000 shares are subject to possible redemption, actual and as adjusted, respectively(3) |
|
— |
|
|
110,000,000 |
|
||
|
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 375,000 shares issued or outstanding, actual and as adjusted |
|
— |
|
|
38 |
|
||
|
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 4,216,667 and 3,666,667 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively(4) |
|
422 |
|
|
367 |
|
||
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
24,578 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Accumulated deficit(5) |
|
(52,224 |
) |
|
(3,624,129 |
) |
||
|
Total shareholders’ deficit |
$ |
(27,224 |
) |
$ |
(3,623,724 |
) |
||
|
Total capitalization |
$ |
11,203 |
|
$ |
110,892,776 |
|
||
____________
(1) Cayman Sponsor may loan us up to $300,000 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 units. As of March 31, 2025, we had borrowed $38,427 under the promissory note.
(2) Each of the underwriters reserves the right in its sole discretion to waive its respective portion of the deferred underwriting commissions at any time prior to the initial business combination by providing written notice to us.
(3) All of the 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the units in this offering contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such public shares in connection with our liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with our initial business combination and in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. In accordance with SEC guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Accordingly, all of the outstanding Class A ordinary shares are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet. Given that the 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the units in the offering will be issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., public warrants), the initial carrying value of Class A ordinary shares classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20. The resulting discount to the initial carrying value of temporary equity will be accreted upon the closing of this offering such that the carrying value will equal the redemption value on such date. The accretion or remeasurement will be recognized as a reduction to additional paid-in capital, or in the absence of additional paid-in capital, retained earnings). Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares will be excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
(4) 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 550,000 founder shares.
(5) As adjusted accumulated deficit includes the immediate accretion of the carrying value of Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption.
127
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as an exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands on June 4, 2024 and will seek to effect an initial business combination. To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. We have not identified any acquisition target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any discussions, directly or indirectly, with respect to identifying any acquisition target. We have generated no operating revenues to date and we do not expect that we will generate operating revenues until we consummate our initial business combination. We may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry or geographic region. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement units, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (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, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B ordinary shares resulted in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares;
• may subordinate the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares if preference shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A ordinary shares;
• could cause a change in control if a substantial number of Class A ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
• may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and
• may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A ordinary shares and/or warrants.
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;
• our inability to pay dividends on our Class A ordinary shares;
• using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our Class A ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
• limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
128
• 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.
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, we had no cash and a working capital deficit of approximately $159,729 and $357,935, respectively. Further, 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 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 completion of this offering through the contribution from Cayman Sponsor of $25,000 to purchase the founder shares and up to $300,000 in loans available from Cayman Sponsor. As of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, we had borrowed $10,420 and $38,427 under the promissory note issued to Cayman Sponsor, respectively.
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the units in this offering and the sale of the private placement units for an aggregate purchase price of $3,750,000 (or $4,080,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), after deducting offering expenses of approximately $630,000 and underwriting commissions of $2,200,000 (or $2,530,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, excluding deferred underwriting commissions of up to $4,400,000, or up to $5,060,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $110,920,000 (or $127,420,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). $110,000,000 (or $126,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account, which includes the deferred underwriting commissions 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, and (no later than 18 months after the closing of this offering) will be held as cash or cash items, including in demand deposit accounts. The remaining approximately $920,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $630,000, 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 $630,000, 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 (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals and excluding deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest from the trust account to pay our taxes, if any, excluding U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax. Our annual 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 tax, excluding U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax. 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.
129
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us the approximately $920,000 of the proceeds held outside the trust account as well as permitted withdrawal amounts. We will use these funds 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 expect to fund our working capital requirements prior to the time of our initial business combination with potentially additional funding from Cayman Sponsor and other affiliates. 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, Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds on a non-interest bearing basis 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 of the post business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement 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 Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 $250,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting successful business combinations; $200,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements and listing and other regulatory fees; and $200,000 for directors and officers insurance liability. We will also pay Cayman Sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team subsequent to the closing of this offering.
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 completion 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 private placement units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. 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. For additional information should we seek additional financing, see “Proposed Business — Potential Additional Financing.”
130
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, 2026. 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.
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 units 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, and (no later than 18 months after the closing of this offering) will be held as cash or cash items, including in demand deposit accounts. 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 December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, 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.
131
Subsequent Events
Subsequent to March 31, 2025, on June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised).
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 completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
132
PROPOSED BUSINESS
General
We are a blank check company newly incorporated as a Cayman 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 or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any potential business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential business combination target. While we may pursue an initial target business in any industry, geography, or sector, we intend to focus our search on growing companies in Asian markets or global companies with a presence or focus in Asia.
Our co-sponsors are affiliated with Chenghe Group Ltd. (“Chenghe Group”), an investment holding company with an advisory practice, and a repeat SPAC sponsor which has backed and led multiple SPAC vehicles from the formation of such vehicles to consummation of their initial business combinations.
Our Company and Co-Sponsors
Our company is led by our CEO and Chairman, Dr. Shibin Wang, and supported by Chairman of the Advisory Board, Richard Li, our CFO, Lyle Wang and our COO, Houston Li. Mr. Richard Li is the founder of Chenghe Group, and both of Mr. Wang and Mr. Houston Li serve on Chenghe Group’s investment team. These members of our management played a critical role in the formation, initial public offerings and business combinations of prior SPACs sponsored by Chenghe Group. Chenghe Group is an investment holding company with multiple lines of business, including financial advisory, asset management, private equity investing and other services. Within its advisory practice, Chenghe Group provides a full spectrum of services, including capital raising, financial advisory on mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) and public listing services across a broad range of sectors and companies at different growth stages. Within its Asset Management and Private Equity practice, Chenghe Group is committed to creating value for investors by identifying and investing in visionary management teams and growing companies with disruptive innovations. The group’s current major investment areas include green technology, TMT (technology, communications, and media), healthcare, consumer, ecommerce, and other new economic industries. In addition, through its Private Equity practice, Chenghe Group has been actively involved in SPAC investments, sponsoring and leading multiple U.S.-listed SPACs including Chenghe Acquisition Co. (Nasdaq: CHEA), Chenghe Acquisition I Co. (Nasdaq: LATG), and Chenghe Acquisition II Co. (NYSE: CHEB.U).
Chenghe Acquisition Co. consummated its initial public offering in May 2022 and consummated its initial business combination in February 2024 with Taiwan Color Optics, Inc., an optical 3D sensing technology company that is primarily involved in the design, manufacture and sale of laser light source modules and integration chip for various applications including LiDAR sensors, smart headlights, and laser projector light sources, and began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market using the ticker “SELX.” Chenghe Acquisition Co. filed a Form 15 on February 26, 2024, de-registering its securities under section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and suspending reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. On July 26, 2023, the holders of 3,062,319 Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares (representing approximately 26.6% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from August 2, 2023 to May 2, 2024. On February 2, 2024, the holders of 4,044,701 Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares (representing approximately 47.9% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition Co. shareholders’ approval of the business combination with Taiwan Color Optics, Inc. As of July 23, 2025, SELX’s share price was $1.18.
In September 2023, the Chenghe Group acquired an existing special purpose acquisition company, LatAmGrowth SPAC, and renamed it Chenghe Acquisition I Co. Chenghe Acquisition I Co. consummated its initial business combination agreement with Femco Steel Technology Co. Ltd. (“FST”) in January 2025. FST primarily designs, manufactures and sells golf shafts under its proprietary brand, KBS, and golf shafts for other global golf club brands and other equipment. FST began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market using the ticker “KBSX.” Chenghe Acquisition I Co. filed a Form 15 on January 27, 2025, de-registering its securities under section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and suspending reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. On April 13, 2023, the holders of 7,399,517 Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares (representing approximately 56.9% of
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then outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from April 27, 2023, to November 27, 2023. On October 26, 2023, the holders of 1,658,610 Chenghe Acquisition I Co. Class A ordinary shares (representing approximately 29.6% of then outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from October 27, 2023, to January 27, 2024, with the option to extend an additional nine months to October 27, 2024. On October 25, 2024, the holders of 407,442 Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s Class A ordinary shares (representing approximately 10.3% of then outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co.’s extension of the date by which it must complete an initial business combination from October 27, 2024 to November 27, 2024, with the option to extend an additional five months to April 27, 2025. On December 23, 2024, the holders of 1,754,618 Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares (representing approximately 38.2% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition I Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares in connection with Chenghe Acquisition I Co. shareholders’ approval of the business combination with FST. As of July 23, 2025, KBSX’s share price was $1.72.
Chenghe Acquisition II Co. consummated its initial public offering in June 2024. On September 17, 2024, Chenghe Acquisition II Co. entered into a business combination agreement with Polibeli Group Ltd (“Polibeli”) and Polibeli Merger One Limited (“Merger Sub”). On March 14, 2025, Polibeli filed a Registration Statement on Form F-4. The Registration Statement on Form F-4 was amended on March 28, 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on March 31, 2025. On May 23, 2025, Chenghe Acquisition II Co. held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, and the shareholders approved the business combination agreement, pursuant to which, among other transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Chenghe Acquisition II Co. with Chenghe Acquisition II Co. being the surviving company and as a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Polibeli. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting, as of May 28, 2025, the holders of 8,464,243 Chenghe Acquisition II Co. public shares (representing approximately 94.7% of then-outstanding Chenghe Acquisition II Co. public shares) elected to redeem their public shares. The business combination among Chenghe Acquisition II Co., Polibeli and Merger Sub is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2025, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining closing conditions.
Cayman Sponsor, our co-sponsor, is a Cayman Islands limited company, and Delaware Sponsor, our co-sponsor, is a Delaware limited liability company, both of which were was formed to invest in us. The manager of Delaware Sponsor is Cayman Sponsor. The managing member of Cayman Sponsor is Chenghe Group, a British Virgin Islands incorporated company owned by the Chairman of our Advisory Board, Mr. Li. Mr. Li controls the management of Cayman Sponsor, and therefore Delaware Sponsor, including the exercise of voting and investment discretion over the securities of our company held by our co-sponsors. As of the date hereof, other than Mr. Li, no other person has a direct or indirect material interest in either co-sponsor. Mr. Li is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. See “Summary — The Offering — Private Placement Units.” Other than Mr. Li, none of the other members of our co-sponsors will participate in our company’s activities. Because (i) none of the sponsor non-managing members will hold voting interests in our co-sponsors nor have any rights to control Delaware Sponsor or to vote or dispose of any securities held by our co-sponsors, (ii) each of the sponsor non-managing members is an institutional investor that is able to bear the complete risk of loss of the proposed investment in our co-sponsors, and (iii) no individual sponsor non-managing member would indirectly own a significant percentage of any of the securities held by Delaware Sponsor, none of the sponsor non-managing members will have a direct or indirect material economic interest in our co-sponsors.
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The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our co-sponsors and their 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 co-sponsors or their affiliates:
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Amount of Compensation to be Received |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid |
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|
Cayman Sponsor |
2,364,667 Class B ordinary shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised)(4) |
$25,000 paid by Cayman Sponsor (after which, Delaware Sponsor paid Cayman Sponsor $11,112 for 1,852,000 founder shares, resulting in an aggregate of $13,888 being paid by Cayman Sponsor for the founder shares) |
||
|
50,000 private placement units (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering |
$500,000 (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) |
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|
$15,000 per month, commencing on the first date on which our securities are listed on Nasdaq |
Office space, administrative and shared personnel support services |
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|
Up to $300,000 in loans |
Repayment of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses |
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|
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
Expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
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Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans, which loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at the price of $10.00 per unit |
Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination |
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|
Delaware Sponsor |
1,852,000 Class B ordinary shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) |
$11,112 |
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|
215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering |
$2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) |
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CBC Securities(6) |
$52,000 |
Underwriting compensation(5) |
||
|
Co-sponsors, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates |
Finder’s, advisory, consulting or success fees |
Payment for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination |
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|
Holders of Class B ordinary shares |
Anti-dilution protection upon conversion into Class A ordinary shares at a greater than one-to-one ratio |
Issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion |
____________
(1) Of the Class B ordinary shares, the sponsor non-managing members own, indirectly through the purchase of non-managing membership interests, an aggregate of up to 1,852,000 Class B ordinary shares, which were purchased for $0.006 per share.
(2) The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the
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underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering.
(3) Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing the non-managing membership interests in Delaware Sponsor reflecting interests in an aggregate of up to 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor.
(4) The Class B ordinary shares and the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the Class B ordinary shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the nominal price of approximately $0.006 per share at which our co-sponsors purchased the Class B ordinary shares and/or the anti-dilution rights of our Class B ordinary shares that may result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. Our co-sponsors, directors and officers and their affiliates may receive additional compensation and/or may be issued additional securities in connection with an initial business combination, including securities that may result in material dilution to public shareholders. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination and our co-sponsors are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the trading price of our ordinary shares materially declines”, “— Risks Relating to our Securities — We may issue additional Class A ordinary shares or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon the conversion of the founder shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks”, and “— Our co-sponsors paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from our co-sponsors’ purchase of our Class B ordinary shares”.
(5) The breakdown for the total compensation is as follows: $50,000 for a structuring services fee and an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions.
(6) We may also engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
Because our co-sponsors acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units. See the section titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Management Team — The nominal purchase price paid by our co-sponsors for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination.”
The founder shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder thereof, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares shall convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 25% of the total number of all ordinary shares outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination or any private placement-equivalent units issued to Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us). Our public shareholders may incur material dilution due to such anti-dilution adjustments that result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion.
In addition, in order to facilitate our initial business combination, our co-sponsors may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our founder shares, private placement units or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities.
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If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution. This dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the founder shares result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the founder shares at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, the cashless exercise of the private placement warrants would further increase the dilution to our public shareholders.
Pursuant to a letter agreement to be entered with us, each of our co-sponsors, directors and officers has agreed to restrictions on its ability to transfer, assign, or sell the founder shares and private placement units (and the underlying securities), as summarized in the table below.
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Subject Securities |
Expiration Date |
Persons Subject |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions |
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Founder Shares |
Earlier of six months after completion of our initial business combination; or if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing any time after completion of our initial business combination |
Chenghe Investment III Limited Chenghe Investment III LLC Shibin Wang Lyle Wang Houston Li Kwan Sun Qingjian Wang Ningrong Liu |
Transfers permitted (i) to any officer, director, or employee of the Company, including to a family member or affiliate of such officer, director, or employee; (ii) by private sales or transfers, in each case, made in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (iii) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; (iv) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or our co-sponsors’ limited liability company agreements upon dissolution of our co-sponsors; and (v) in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination |
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Private Placement Units (and Underlying Securities) |
30 days after the completion of our initial business combination |
Same as above |
Same as above |
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|
Subject Securities |
Expiration Date |
Persons Subject |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions |
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Any units, warrants, ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any units, ordinary shares, founder shares or warrants |
180 days |
Same as above |
The 180 day lock-up period is pursuant to the underwriting agreement. The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice, other than in the case of the officers and directors, which shall be with notice. Our co-sponsors, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private placement units pursuant to the letter agreement described in the immediately preceding paragraphs |
In addition, pursuant to such letter agreement, for the benefit of BTIG, we, our co-sponsors and our officers and directors have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, charge or grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of BTIG for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, any units, warrants, ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares or 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, ordinary shares, warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares owned, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that we may (1) issue and sell the private placement warrants; (2) issue and sell the additional units to cover our 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 private placement warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and the founder shares; and (4) issue securities in connection with our initial business combination. However, the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture of any founder shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of founder shares to any current or future independent director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director is subject to the terms of the letter agreement, filed herewith, at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). Further, the co-sponsors’ membership interests (including the interests held by the non-managing members) are locked up and not transferable because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers. BTIG in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.
The founder shares, the private placement shares and the private placement warrants held by the co-sponsors will only be distributed to the members of the co-sponsors (including the sponsor non-managing members) after consummation of our initial business combination, at which time such sponsor non-managing members would become subject to the applicable transfer restrictions with respect to such securities.
Our letter agreement may be amended without shareholder approval. Such transfer restrictions have been amended in connection with business combinations for certain other special purpose acquisition companies. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to the letter agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to the letter agreement.
While non-managing members will not be a direct party to the letter agreement discussed, as a result of their ownership of membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, they will be bound by the restrictions set forth above with respect to their allocated founder shares, the private placement units and securities underlying the private placement units (including the restriction on transfer of their membership interests because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers). However, the non-managing sponsor investors will not be subject to transfer restrictions or a lock-up agreement on any public units, public Class A ordinary shares or public warrants that they may purchase in this offering or thereafter pursuant to the expressions of interest described below. See “Principal Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units.”
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Business Strategy
We intend to capitalize on the experience of our team to identify and acquire one or more growing companies in Asian markets or global businesses with a presence or focus in Asia, that demonstrate a strong potential for expansion and value creation. Leveraging Cayman Sponsor’s affiliate and management team, we have a unique vantage point in assessing deal flow, sourcing proprietary opportunities and potential investment targets through the connectivity of Chenghe Group and our partners. Our management team has extensive experience and deep networks both globally and within the Asia-Pacific region, and we believe we are well positioned to effectively source and evaluate promising investment opportunities that can benefit from the expertise and capabilities of our management team to create long-term shareholder value.
A combination of economic, political, and geopolitical uncertainty, along with restrictive global monetary policies, created a “perfect IPO storm,” pushing Asia-Pacific IPO activity to its lowest level in 11 years. Limited liquidity, challenging valuations, post IPO-underperformance, and weakened confidence led many companies to postpone or reconsider their public offerings, particularly in early 2024. However, cross-border listings increased by 53% year-over-year in 2024, with 87 outbound deals and three inbound listings. Greater China and Singapore continued to lead in the U.S. international listings.
In addition to new and attractive business combination targets continuing to emerge in the region, we believe Asia remains a robust market for new issuances and is primed for an uptick in new issuances in 2025. In 2024, 488 companies went public in Asia-Pacific raising $34.94 billion. Despite the healthy public equity activity within the Asia region, this represented a year over year decline of 35% in a number of companies going public and a 51% fall in primary capital raised. Within the Asia-Pacific IPO sector, financially robust enterprises, supported by private equity and venture capital firms, possess the financial flexibility to delay their listings until market conditions become more favorable. With a focus on realistic pricing and post-IPO performance, we anticipate that many of these well-prepared and public ready companies, which delayed 2024 IPO plans, may choose to pursue a go-public strategy in 2025 or 2026.
Asia is expected to represent approximately 50% of the global GDP and is on track to represent 40% of global consumption by 2040. Much of the growth being seen in the Asian markets is driven directly by the consumer and e-commerce verticals, as consumer income continues to increase, and robust digital ecosystems and infrastructures rise across Asia. The e-commerce and consumer markets have witnessed rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific region over the past decade, and the trend is projected to further continue over the next three to four years. As internet access expands throughout the region, consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping, drawn by its rapid, efficient, and reliable distribution of goods. E-commerce is anticipated to demonstrate consistent growth throughout the forecast period, with a CAGR of 6.39% from 2023 to 2027. The gross merchandise value of E-commerce in this region is projected to rise from $3,855.8 billion in 2022 to $5,108.8 billion by 2027.
There are two main drivers of the growth within the Asia e-commerce and consumer markets. The first is the rapid adoption of digital technologies with increasing internet penetration. Nations across the Asia-Pacific region are experiencing a notable surge in internet users, thereby establishing a broad customer base for online retailers. The number of e-commerce buyers in Asia is also projected to increase by approximately 52% from 2023 to 2028, rising from approximately 1.33 billion to 2.03 billion. Specifically, the PRC accounted for 884 million online shoppers in 2023, while the U.S. only had 254 million. The other factor is the growing popularity of the smart homes concept in Asia, with a focus on integrating AI technology and voice control systems. Based on Statista’s estimates, the smart home market in Asia is forecasted to expand at an annual growth rate of 12.12% between 2024 and 2028, resulting in a projected market volume of $95.8 billion by 2028.
• In the next decade, we expect the E-commerce market in the Asia-Pacific region to continue to represent a substantial growth opportunity for businesses given the swiftly growing consumer base in the region. In the PRC alone, there were 1.09 billion internet users at the beginning of 2024, representing a penetration rate of 76.4%. Southeast Asia also stands out as one of the global leaders in rapid digital device adoption, with a particular emphasis on mobile devices driving its internet usage. By 2024, a total of 1.76 billion cellular mobile connections were active in the PRC, equating to 123.4% of the total population.
Our business combination target selection process will leverage our team’s broad and deep network of relationships, unique industry expertise and proven deal-sourcing capabilities to provide us with a strong and differentiated pipeline of potential targets.
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Our team’s expertise includes:
• sourcing, structuring, acquiring, and selling businesses;
• investing in businesses globally and enabling them to build and/or grow their business in the Greater China or other Asian markets, applying our unique market, policy, and government insights;
• helping target companies gain access to the Greater China or other Asian markets as well as secure funding from other reputable investors and lenders, managing and operating companies, devising strategic operational initiatives, and identifying, mentoring and recruiting top-notch talent;
• developing and growing companies, both organically and via mergers and acquisitions; and
• fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target management teams; and accessing public and private capital markets to optimize capital structure, including financing businesses and helping companies transition ownership structures.
Immediately following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships within our team to search for a potential target for our initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.
Our Management
Our SPAC leadership team, consisting of Dr. Shibin Wang, Lyle Wang, Houston Li, and Richard Li, has decades of combined investment, transaction, and operational experience. Our team has an extensive track record advising and investing in some of the largest transactions in Asia. Our board is comprised of industry leading investors and entrepreneurs to help bolster our connectivity and value add with potential business combination targets.
Dr. Shibin Wang — CEO and Chairman of the Board
Dr. Shibin Wang has served as our CEO and Chairman since January 2025. Dr. Wang has over 20 years of experience in sales and trading of structured financial products, cross-border financing and other capital market activities. Over such period, his clients or counterparts have included major banks (China Development Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agriculture Bank of China and China Construction Bank), leading organizations (China National Offshore Oil Corporation and GCL-Poly Energy) and leading private equity firms (Hillhouse Capital and Greenwoods Asset Management). Dr. Wang has served as the chairman of the board of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since April 2024 and as its CEO since January 2025. Dr. Wang has served as a co-founder of Hong Kong Digital Asset Ex Ltd. (or “HKbitEX”), a regulated digital asset exchange in Hong Kong dedicated to providing a regulatory-compliant and safe digital asset spot trading and over-the-counter trading services to professional investors in Asia, since December 2018, and has served as the chief business officer and a board member of HKbitEX since April 2019. Under Dr. Wang’s leadership, the company was among the first organizations in Asia-Pacific to apply for a virtual asset trading platform license from the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong and was recognized as one of China’s top 50 fintech companies in the “2020 KPMG China Fintech 50.”
Dr. Wang also served as the CEO and director of Chenghe Acquisition Co. from April 2022 to February 2024 and the chairman of the board of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from October 2023 to January 2025. In 2018, Dr. Wang advised the Intelligent Investment Chain Foundation on funding and ecosystem development. The Intelligent Investment Chain Foundation is a decentralized virtual asset management application developed based on Ethereum smart contracts with an ecology including quantitative funds, cross-chain wealth management wallets and media. Dr. Wang’s served Oriental Patron Financial Group as chief marketing officer from 2016 to 2018, during which he led the company’s blockchain initiatives and fintech investments. Under Dr. Wang’s leadership, Oriental Patron made investments in DIDI Chuxing and CarbonX, organized a number of forums with leading institutions as well as established the Renminbi-denominated Fintech/Internet Plus fund, with Renminbi 3 billion of assets under management, in collaboration with Magnetic Capital in Shanghai. Dr. Wang was an executive director and head of China structure solutions at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong from 2010 to 2016. Prior to that, he worked at FICC Goldman Sachs from 2008 to 2010 and at China Development Bank managing a fixed-income portfolio from 2003 to 2008. Dr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in international trading from Dongbei University of Finance & Economics, as well as a Master’s degree in finance and a Ph.D. in economics, both from the Finance Institute of the People’s Bank of China.
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Lyle Wang — CFO
Lyle Wang has served as our CFO and a member of our board of directors since December 2024. Mr. Wang has served as the CFO of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since April 2024 and as one of its directors since January 2025. He has also served as a member of Chenghe Group’s investment team since March 2023. Additionally, Mr. Wang served as the CFO of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from June 2024 to January 2025. Mr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University and a master’s degree in finance from The University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining Chenghe Group, Mr. Wang served as a client manager of retail finance department at China Merchants Bank. Mr. Wang has in-depth knowledge of financial products and market analysis.
Houston Li — COO
Houston Li has served as our COO since December 2024. He has served as an Associate of Chenghe Group’s investment team since July 2024 and has served as an Associate at CBC Securities, a co-manager in this offering, since October 2024. Mr. Houston Li obtained a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics-Economics from Brown University. Prior to joining Chenghe Group, Mr. Houston Li served as an executive on the fund placement team at Campbell Lutyens from August 2023 to July 2024 and interned in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley from June 2022 to August 2022. Houston Li is the son of Richard Li, who is the controlling shareholder of Cayman Sponsor, which is also the manager of Delaware Sponsor.
Richard Qi Li — Chairman of the Advisory Board
Richard Qi Li will serve as the Chairman of our Advisory Board and has more than two decades of experience in the financial service industry. Mr. Li is the founder of Chenghe Group and has served as the CEO of HH&L Acquisition Co., Chairman of Chenghe Acquisition Co. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Chenghe Acquisition I Co. Mr. Li currently serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Chenghe Acquisition II Co., the Chairman of Chenghe Capital Management Limited, and as a director for FST Corp. From 2017 to 2021, Mr. Li served as the chief investment officer and chief operating officer of China Great Wall AMC (International) Holdings Company Limited, and from 2018, was the chief executive officer of Great Wall Pan Asia Asset Management Ltd., both subsidiaries of China Great Wall Asset Management Co. Ltd., a leading asset management company based in China. Mr. Li was previously a managing director and the Head of China Securities at Goldman Sachs Asia, and a managing director and the Head of North Asia Capital Markets and Treasury Solutions at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Mr. Li worked at Merrill Lynch, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC.
Mr. Li has worked with or advised many financial institutions in Greater China on capital markets activities, sales and trading of fixed income products and structured equities, investment, risk management, and/or building up trading or asset management platforms. His clients or counterparts have included leading sovereign wealth funds (State Administration of Foreign Exchange and China Investment Corporation), large banks (Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Merchants Bank), insurers (China Life, PICC, Ping An Insurance) and asset managers (National Social Security Fund, China Asset Management and Harvest Fund). Mr. Li also advised Shanghai Pudong Development Bank in connection with the formation of a business alliance and the establishment of a credit card joint venture with Citibank in 2002. Mr. Li obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in economics from Nankai University in China and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School. He was also a visiting scholar at Harvard University in 2019.
Kwan Sun — Director Nominee
Kwan Sun founded Millburn Advisory LLC, a real estate fund manager, in 2018 and has served as its managing partner since then. Since April 2024, Mr. Sun has served as a director of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Sun served as the vice chairman of Nan Fung Group’s U.S. businesses to help develop Nan Fung Group’s U.S. real estate business. Mr. Sun served as a director at Deutsche Bank in the structured products department from 1997 to 2003, and as a director at Morgan Stanley in the structured products department from 2003 to 2007. Thereafter, Mr. Sun served as a managing director at Deutsche Bank in the structured products department from 2007 to 2009 and as a managing director at Morgan Stanley in the investment banking department from 2009 to 2014. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank in 1997, he served as a vice president of the capital markets department of Merrill Lynch, where he focused on trading fixed income derivatives. He was employed at Merrill Lynch from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Sun has been a director of Chenghe Acquisition Co. since April 2022, and Chenghe Acquisition Co. subsequently changed its name
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to Semilux International Ltd after its business combination in February 2024. Mr. Sun has been a director of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since June 2024. Mr. Sun served as a director of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from October 2023 to January 2025. Mr. Sun graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. We believe Mr. Sun is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive and relevant business experience across a range of positions, markets, and fields.
Qingjian Wang — Director Nominee
Qingjian Wang has served as a partner at Haiwen & Partners LLP since 2018 and has served as its managing partner since February 2022. In addition, Mr. Wang has served as the sole director of Jabez Capital Limited since June 2020. Mr. Wang has nearly 20 years of legal experience, focusing on investment funds, private equity, and venture capital investments. Before joining Haiwen & Partners LLP, he practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton from 2016 to 2018 and at O’Melveny & Myers from 2004 to 2016. Mr. Wang earned an LLB degree from Shanghai Fudan University in 2004 and an LLM degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2009. He is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong and New York and has passed the PRC bar examination. We believe Mr. Wang is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive legal expertise spanning Hong Kong, the United States, and the PRC, particularly in investment funds, private equity, and venture capital investments. His experience in navigating complex cross-border legal and compliance matters will provide valuable insights and strategic guidance to the company.
Ningrong Liu — Director Nominee
Ningrong Liu has served as an Associate Vice President at The University of Hong Kong since September 2022. Additionally, Mr. Liu has served as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong since September 2000 and began serving as a Professor in September 2022. Since July 2010, Mr. Liu has served as a Director at the Institute for China Business at the University of Hong Kong. From July 2015 to August 2022, Mr. Liu served as the Deputy Director of Business and China at The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education. From February 2010 to July 2015, Mr. Liu served as an Associate Director at The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education. Mr. Liu served as an Assistant Director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong from April 2000 to September 2000. Mr. Liu earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language & Literature from Nankai University in 1984, a Master of Communications from Indiana University Bloomington in 1995, and a Doctor of Education in Education Management from the University of Bristol in 2007. We believe Mr. Liu is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive academic and leadership experience, including over two decades of service at The University of Hong Kong in various senior roles, and his broad expertise in education management, business, and communications.
With respect to the foregoing experiences of our management, Cayman Sponsor and Chenghe Group, past performance is not a guarantee (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management’s, Cayman Sponsor’s or Chenghe Group’s performance as indicative of our future performance. For more information on the experience and background of our management team and the Advisory Board, see below and the sections entitled “Management and Advisory Board” and “Proposed Business.”
Competitive Strengths
We believe that through the networks and relationships of our management and board, along with the financial and deal expertise, and the sourcing, valuation, diligence and execution capabilities of our leadership team and Chenghe Group, we will have a significant pipeline of differentiated opportunities which are ready to go public.
Our competitive strengths include:
• Leading Industry Insights and Proprietary Sourcing Channels. We believe our team’s global insights and experience will allow us to identify suitable public ready companies with solid fundamentals that are primed for growth and multiple expansion. Our team’s extensive sector and transaction experience as well as our other corporate relationships have helped us develop a broad array of contacts with both potential DeSPAC targets and strategic investors. In addition, through Cayman Sponsor’s affiliate, Chenghe Group, we will have unique access to a proprietary pipeline of acquisition opportunities in Asia through our active advisory and investment businesses. We believe that these factors will give us an edge over other market participants in terms of sourcing targets for our initial business combination.
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• Deep Geographic Connectivity and Expertise. Our management team has deep connectivity and strategic relationships within the broader Asian market opportunity set and poised to identify and the blue chip targets ready to publicly list on the U.S. markets, as well as unique access to global capital through non-U.S. investor relationships.
• Demonstrated track records in SPAC Transactions. Chenghe Group and our SPAC management team have had success shepherding multiple companies through a DeSPAC process to the U.S. public markets. Our team’s experience and ability to enter into and close transactions, while also successfully raising capital amidst a challenged new issuance backdrop will be an attractive value add for top targets assessing potential SPAC partners.
• Investment Experience. We believe that our team’s track record of identifying, sourcing and advising on transactions positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential business combinations that have a strong potential to be well received by the public markets.
• Execution and Deal Structuring Capability. We believe that our team’s combined expertise and reputation will allow us to source and complete transactions possessing structural attributes that create an attractive investment thesis. These types of transactions are typically complex and require creativity, industry knowledge and expertise, rigorous due diligence, and extensive negotiations and documentation. We believe that by focusing our investment activities on these types of transactions, we will be able to generate investment opportunities that have attractive risk-reward profiles.
• Long-term Value and Strategic Partnership. We believe that our team can create long-term value by collaborating with target management teams, forming strategic partnerships, and enhancing performance.
Business Combination Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general and non-exclusive criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating initial business combination opportunities, although we may enter into our initial business combination with target business or businesses that do not strictly meet any or all of these criteria and guidelines.
• Exceptional Management Teams. We will be focusing on seasoned blue-chip management teams comprised of industry leaders which are public ready and have demonstrated a history of driving growth for the company and delivering on operational and financial metrics for investors. To the extent we believe it will enhance shareholder value, we would seek to selectively supplement the existing management team of the business with proven leaders and executives from our network.
• Capabilities to leverage the compelling market trends in Asian markets. We will target one or more businesses that have gained sustainable competitive advantages, demonstrated potential for strong growth in the future, and have significant opportunities in and/or synergies with Asian markets. We believe this approach will enable us to effectively leverage our strong network to identify attractive opportunities and that the larger market capitalization and public float of the resulting company will be more attractive to our investors.
• Large addressable market and high growth prospects. We intend to focus on companies with fundamentally sound business models today, that operate in a large underlying addressable market with strong tail winds that we believe will support significant growth and superior returns over time. This would include companies with embedded or underexploited growth opportunities or those that may benefit from capital infusion to execute on from synergistic add-on acquisitions, increased production capacity, expense reductions, technology upgrades and increased operating leverage.
• Resilient financial profiles. We will prioritize companies that are appropriately capitalized today, and in a strong liquidity position to continue to operate the business. Capital infusions tied to the business combination would look to augment operational metrics and growth.
• Potential to further improve with expertise and partnership. Our management team has a history of accelerating growth of companies with strong historical performance. We believe our team’s experience in our target sectors and network of industry contacts have the potential to generate opportunities to enhance the financial and operational efficiencies of the target businesses, through identifiable catalysts that could transform the value of these investments, and potentially offer an attractive return for our shareholders.
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• Targets which are public ready and would benefit from access to the public capital markets. We intend to seek targets that have robust corporate governance, with existing reporting polices that would exemplify preparedness for the scrutiny of public markets, and that would benefit from being a public company with an increased public profile, and increased access to a more diversified pool of capital.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. We will also utilize our operational and capital allocation experience. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors, and criteria that our management may deem relevant. 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.
Potential Additional Financing
Should we seek to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of the business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public shareholders may suffer significant dilution and these securities could have rights that rank senior to our public shares. If we raise additional funds through the incurrence of indebtedness, such indebtedness would have rights that are senior to our equity securities and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. Further, as described above, due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares, our public shareholders may incur material dilution. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemptions by public shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets
Our robust pipeline of business combination targets will be fueled by the extensive connectivity, networks, and relationships cultivated by our seasoned management team, board of directors, Cayman Sponsor’s affiliate, Chenghe Group, and lead underwriter and advisor BTIG. Our team’s sourcing activities are driven by access to high-quality deal flow from our internal networks, strategic partners, and trusted advisors, all of which are rigorously evaluated against our stringent acquisition criteria. Leveraging our team’s collective technical, operational, and transactional expertise, we will meticulously identify and assess acquisition targets poised to deliver substantial value to our shareholders through our initial business combination.
We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and operations from outside the United States, and a majority of our assets will be located within the United States immediately after this offering. Our corporate affairs will be governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under the law of the Cayman Islands are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. Additionally, Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, is a Chinese citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides
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in Hong Kong. Richard Li, our Chairman of the Advisory Board, is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Ningrong Liu, our independent director nominee, holds citizenship for both Hong Kong and the United States and resides in Hong Kong. Qingjian Wang, our independent director nominee, holds Singaporean citizenship, holds a Hong Kong permanent resident card, and resides in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Because of such ties of our officers and directors to mainland China or Hong Kong, we may be governed by PRC laws and regulations. For the risks related thereto, please see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — Given that most of our directors and officers have ties to mainland China and/or Hong Kong, the Chinese government may exercise oversight and discretion over their conduct including their search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas by and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business, the PRC Target Company’s business operations post-business combination and/or the value of the securities we are registering.”
In addition, we may seek to acquire a company that is based in mainland China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination. Public shareholders may find it more difficult to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on individual directors and executive officers, and may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” for additional information. For additional risks related to acquiring and operating a business in China, see, e.g., “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Acquiring and Operating a Business in China and Other Foreign Countries — Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us.”
Due to (i) the legal and regulatory risks associated with being based in Hong Kong, and (ii) our co-sponsors and most of our executive officers and/or directors having ties to PRC or Hong Kong, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based SPAC, which may therefore limit the pool of acquisition candidates, and make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based. See “Risk Factors — General Risk Factors — 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” for additional information.
Our Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
We have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. From the period commencing with our formation through the date of this prospectus, there have been no communications or discussions between any of our officers, directors or our co-sponsors and any of their potential contacts or relationships regarding a potential initial business combination. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, to conduct any research or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business. 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 impact a target business.
In addition, we may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
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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 (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes paid or payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of execution of the definitive agreement for such business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. 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 or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions 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 shareholders 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 shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 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 shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests 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 shareholders 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% fair market value test described above. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we will have until 18 months from the closing of this offering, or until such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, to complete an initial business combination. However, we may hold a shareholder vote at any time to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination (as well as 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 the time periods described herein or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity). As described herein, our initial shareholders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed that they will not propose any such amendment unless we provide our public shareholders 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein.
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.
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Sourcing of Potential Initial Business Combination Targets
We believe our management team is well positioned to identify unique opportunities across the private company landscape, particularly growth companies in Asian markets or global firms with Asian presence. Our selection process will leverage our relationships with leading private company founders, executives of private and public companies, venture capitalists, private equity and growth equity funds.
We have not contacted any of the prospective target businesses that Chenghe Acquisition Co., Chenghe Acquisition I Co., or Chenghe Acquisition II Co. had considered and rejected as a target business to acquire. However, we may contact such targets subsequent to the closing of this offering if we become aware that such targets are interested in a potential initial business combination with us and such transaction would be attractive to our shareholders. 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.
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. Any such payments prior to our initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account, including permitted withdrawals.
Conflicts of Interests between (i) Our Co-Sponsors, Officers, Directors and Other Affiliates and (ii) Our Unaffiliated Shareholders
We are not prohibited from paying any fees (such as advisory fees), reimbursements or cash payments to our co-sponsors, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, including the following payments, all of which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from (i) funds held outside the trust account or (ii) permitted withdrawals:
• Repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by Cayman Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
• Payment to Cayman Sponsor of $15,000 per month, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees;
• Reimbursement for any out of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;
• Payment of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination; and
• Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans; and
• $52,000 payment to CBC Securities in underwriting compensation. This includes a $50,000 structuring services fee and an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions; and
• We may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services to us in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash.
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We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, executive officers or directors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our co-sponsors, executive officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions stating that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view and a majority of our disinterested and independent directors approve such transaction.
Certain members of our management team (including our independent directors) may directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement units 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 co-sponsors and/or our 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 shareholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, the founder shares and private placement units may expire worthless, except to the extent the holders thereof receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our co-sponsors and our executive officers and directors to complete any transaction, regardless of its ultimate value. 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.
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. For a summary of the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations, see “Management and Advisory Board — Conflicts of Interest.” 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, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us, and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. We do not believe, however, 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 co-sponsors 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. In particular, certain members of our management team have served and/or currently serve as officers and directors of other SPACs. As a result, our co-sponsors, officers, and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other blank check company with which they may become involved. Members of our management team have complete discretion, subject to applicable fiduciary duties, as to which blank check company they choose to pursue a business combination and the order in which they pursue business combinations for any of their existing or future blank check companies. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination.
However, particularly considering that other SPACs of which members of our management have served as officers or directors have either consummated their business combinations or entered into a definitive agreement in relation thereto, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of $105,600,000 (assuming no redemptions), after payment of up to $4,400,000 of deferred underwriting fees (or $121,440,000 (assuming no redemptions) after payment of up to $5,060,000 of deferred underwriting fees 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.
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, members of our management team may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Our key personnel may not 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 may not 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.
Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. However, we will seek shareholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons.
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Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, shareholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
• we issue (other than in a public offering for cash) Class A ordinary shares that will either (a) be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of Class A ordinary shares 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 security holders (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 ordinary shares to be issued, or if the number of ordinary shares into which the securities may be convertible or exercisable, exceeds either (a) 1% of the number of ordinary shares or 1% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any of our directors and officers or (b) 5% of the number of ordinary shares or 5% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any substantial security holders; or
• the issuance or potential issuance of ordinary shares will result in our undergoing a change of control.
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants 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 shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants 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 co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. 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.
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, or to reduce the number of shares being submitted for redemption. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants 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 Class A ordinary shares or public warrants 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 co-sponsors, initial shareholders, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders (in the case of Class A ordinary shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our co-sponsors, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but
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only if such shares have not already been voted at the general meeting related to our initial business combination. Our co-sponsors, executive officers, directors, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which shareholders 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. Our co-sponsors, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. We expect 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 co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases;
• if our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process;
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;
• our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and
• we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items:
• the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates, along with the purchase price;
• the purpose of the purchases by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates;
• the impact, if any, of the purchases by our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved;
• the identities of our security holders who sold to our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates; and
• the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer.
Please see “Risk Factors — If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our co-sponsors, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public warrants from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our securities.”
Redemption Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares 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
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an initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters.
Our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, 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 Class A ordinary shares 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 Class A ordinary shares 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 shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) without a shareholder vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder 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 shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require shareholder approval while direct mergers with our company (other than with a 90% subsidiary of ours) and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding ordinary shares or seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would require shareholder approval. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with Nasdaq’s shareholder approval rules.
The requirement that we provide our public shareholders 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 memorandum and articles of association 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 a special resolution of our shareholders, which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution.
If we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with a general 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 shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive the approval of an ordinary resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution. In accordance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a quorum for such meeting will be holders of one-third of the shares in the capital
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of the company being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorized representative or proxy at the general meeting. Our initial shareholders will count towards this quorum and, pursuant to the letter agreement, our co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares, shares underlying the private placement units and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination (except that any public shares such parties may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the proposed business combination). For purposes of seeking approval of an ordinary resolution, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a greater majority than an ordinary resolution). Assuming that the holders of only one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are present in person or by proxy, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and all such shares held by our initial shareholders are voted, we would not need any of the 11,000,000 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 overallotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a higher threshold than an ordinary resolution). These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction or whether they were a shareholder on the record date for the shareholder meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
If a shareholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a shareholder 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. If public shareholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the 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 co-sponsors will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase our Class A ordinary shares in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
We intend to require our public shareholders 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 share 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 shareholder vote, we intend to require a public shareholder 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 shareholders 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 shareholders, 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 shareholders 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 Class A ordinary shares 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 Class A ordinary shares 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 Shareholder Approval
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage shareholders 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. By limiting our shareholders’ 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 shareholders 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 shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Delivering Share Certificates in Connection with the Exercise of Redemption Rights
As described above, we intend to require our public shareholders 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 share 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 shareholder vote, we intend to require a public shareholder 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 shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public shareholder 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 shareholder 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 shareholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
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.
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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 shareholders 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 the end of the completion window.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we will have only until the end of the completion window to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such completion window, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, 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 permitted withdrawals 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 shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window.
Our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived 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 the completion window 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 memorandum and articles of association. However, if our initial shareholders, co-sponsors 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 completion window.
Our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
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 $920,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although there may not 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 (excluding U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax) or make other permitted withdrawals, 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.
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If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account and any permitted withdrawals or expenses for the dissolution of the trust, the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders 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 shareholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders will not be substantially less than $10.00. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we may not have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
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 shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with 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 underwriters 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 co-sponsors have agreed that they 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 permitted withdrawals, 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 co-sponsors to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our co-sponsors have sufficient funds to satisfy their indemnity obligations and we believe that our co-sponsors’ only assets are securities of our company. Our co-sponsors may not 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.
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 permitted withdrawals, and our co-sponsors assert that they are unable to satisfy their indemnification obligations or that they have no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our co-sponsors to enforce their indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our co-sponsors to enforce their indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, due to claims of creditors, the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.00 per share.
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We will seek to reduce the possibility that our co-sponsors will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except our independent registered public accounting firm), 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 co-sponsors will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $920,000 from the proceeds of this offering as well as permitted withdrawals 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, shareholders 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 $630,000, 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 $630,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
If we file a bankruptcy or winding up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we may not be able to return $10.00 per share to our public shareholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy or winding up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent preference, conveyance or disposition”. As a result, a bankruptcy or other court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. 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 shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public shareholders 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 the completion window, (ii) in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ 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 shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a shareholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, like all provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended with a shareholder vote.
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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 the completion window.
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Redemptions in |
Other Permitted |
Redemptions if we fail to |
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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 shareholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a shareholder vote. In either case, our public shareholders 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 an 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 permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding |
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders, 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 shareholders, 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 non-public 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 |
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, 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 permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. |
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public shares. |
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. |
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Redemptions in |
Other Permitted |
Redemptions if we fail to |
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Impact to remaining shareholders |
The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining shareholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and interest withdrawn in order to pay our taxes (to the extent not paid from amounts accrued as interest on the funds held in the trust account, excluding U.S. federal share repurchase excise tax which do not form part of permitted withdrawal). |
If the permitted purchases described above are made, there would be no impact to our remaining shareholders 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 shareholders, who will be our only remaining shareholders 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.
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Terms of Our Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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Escrow of offering proceeds |
$110,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units will be deposited into a trust account located in the United States with Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. |
Approximately $93,058,000 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. |
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Terms of Our Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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Investment of net proceeds |
$110,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units 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. 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 (and will no later than 18 months from the closing of this offering) 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. |
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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Receipt of interest on escrowed funds |
Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to shareholders is reduced by (i) permitted withdrawals and (ii) 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. |
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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 (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes paid or payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of execution of the definitive agreement for such business combination. |
The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds. |
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Trading of securities issued |
The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless the representative informs us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed 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, including, if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option simultaneously with the initial closing, the proceeds of the over-allotment and having issued a |
No trading of the units or the underlying Class A ordinary shares and warrants would be permitted until the completion 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 |
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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, including, if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option simultaneously with the initial closing, the proceeds of the over-allotment. |
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Exercise of the warrants |
The warrants cannot be exercised until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. |
The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account. |
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Election to remain an investor |
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account 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 permitted withdrawals), 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 shareholder vote. If we are not required by law and do not otherwise decide to hold a shareholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC 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 shareholder 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 shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive the approval of an ordinary resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution. Additionally, each |
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 shareholder 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 shareholder. 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 |
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public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction, or whether they were a public shareholder on the record date for the general meeting held to approve the proposed transaction. |
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Business combination deadline |
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the completion window, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, 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 permitted withdrawals 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 shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the requirements of other applicable law. |
If an acquisition has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors. |
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Release of funds |
Except for permitted withdrawals, 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 the completion window, subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted. |
The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion 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 |
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In connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. |
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Delivering share certificates in connection with the exercise of redemption rights |
We intend to require our public shareholders 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 share 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 shareholder vote, we intend to require a public shareholder 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 shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that any beneficial owner on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public shareholder 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 shareholder can vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating that such shareholder is seeking to exercise its redemption rights. After the business combination is approved, the company would contact such shareholder 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 |
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Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding more than 20% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a shareholder vote |
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. However, we would not restrict our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. |
Many blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of shareholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such shareholders in connection with an initial business combination. |
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, 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 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 shareholders who exercise or are forced to exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Facilities
Our executive offices are located at 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore, 189767 and our telephone number is (65) 9851 8611. Commencing on the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to pay Cayman Sponsor a total of $15,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative services; upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have two executive officers. 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, Class A ordinary shares and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
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We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to shareholders 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, 2026 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 a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act. As an exempted company, we have applied for and received a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
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We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A ordinary shares 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.
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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MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY BOARD
Management
Our officers, directors, and director nominees are as follows:
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Name |
Age |
Position |
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Shibin Wang |
48 |
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors |
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Lyle Wang |
26 |
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
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Houston Li |
24 |
Chief Operating Officer |
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Kwan Sun |
60 |
Independent director nominee |
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Qingjian Wang |
44 |
Independent director nominee |
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Ningrong Liu |
61 |
Independent director nominee |
Dr. Shibin Wang, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, has over 20 years of experience in sales and trading of structured financial products, cross-border financing and other capital market activities. Over such period, his clients or counterparts have included major banks (China Development Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agriculture Bank of China and China Construction Bank), leading organizations (China National Offshore Oil Corporation and GCL-Poly Energy) and leading private equity firms (Hillhouse Capital and Greenwoods Asset Management). Dr. Wang has served as the chairman of the board of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since April 2024 and as its CEO since January 2025. Dr. Wang has served as a co-founder business of Hong Kong Digital Asset Ex Ltd. (or “HKbitEX”), a regulated digital asset exchange in Hong Kong dedicated to providing a regulatory-compliant and safe digital asset spot trading and over-the-counter trading services to professional investors in Asia, since December 2018, and has served as the chief executive officer and a board member of HKbitEX since April 2019. Under Dr. Wang’s leadership, the company was among the first organizations in Asia-Pacific to apply for a virtual asset trading platform license from the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong and was recognized as one of China’s top 50 fintech companies in the “2020 KPMG China Fintech 50.”
Dr. Wang also served as the CEO and director of Chenghe Acquisition Co. from April 2022 to February 2024 and the chairman of the board of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from October 2023 to January 2025. In 2018, Dr. Wang advised the Intelligent Investment Chain Foundation on funding and ecosystem development. The Intelligent Investment Chain Foundation is a decentralized virtual asset management application developed based on Ethereum smart contracts with an ecology including quantitative funds, cross-chain wealth management wallets and media. Dr. Wang’s served Oriental Patron Financial Group as chief marketing officer from 2016 to 2018, during which he led the company’s blockchain initiatives and fintech investments. Under Dr. Wang’s leadership, Oriental Patron made investments in DIDI Chuxing and CarbonX, organized a number of forums with leading institutions as well as established the Renminbi-denominated Fintech/Internet Plus fund, with Renminbi 3 billion of assets under management, in collaboration with Magnetic Capital in Shanghai. Dr. Wang was an executive director and head of China structure solutions at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong from 2010 to 2016. Prior to that, he worked at FICC Goldman Sachs from 2008 to 2010 and at China Development Bank managing a fixed-income portfolio from 2003 to 2008. Dr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in international trading from Dongbei University of Finance & Economics, as well as a Master’s degree in finance and a Ph.D. in economics, both from the Finance Institute of the People’s Bank of China.
Lyle Wang, our Chief Financial Officer and member of our board of directors, has considerable experience in finance and investment. Mr. Wang has served as the CFO of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since April 2024 and as one of its directors since January 2025. He has also served as a member of Chenghe Group’s investment team since March 2023. Additionally, Mr. Wang served as the CFO of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from June 2024 to January 2025. Mr. Wang obtained a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University and a master’s degree in finance from The University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining Chenghe Group, Mr. Wang served as a client manager of retail finance department at China Merchants Bank. Mr. Wang has in-depth knowledge of financial products and market analysis.
Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, has a background focusing on international investments. He has served as an Associate of Chenghe Group’s investment team since July 2024 and has served as an Associate at CBC Securities, a co-manager in this offering, since October 2024. Mr. Houston Li obtained a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics-Economics from Brown University. Prior to joining Chenghe Group, Mr. Houston Li served
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as an executive on the fund placement team at Campbell Lutyens from August 2023 to July 2024 and interned in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley from June 2022 to August 2022. Houston Li is the son of Richard Li, who is the controlling shareholder of Cayman Sponsor, which is also the manager of Delaware Sponsor.
Kwan Sun will serve as an independent director of our company immediately upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form S-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Mr. Sun founded Millburn Advisory LLC, a real estate fund manager, in 2018 and has served as its managing partner since then. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Sun served as the vice chairman of Nan Fung Group’s U.S. businesses to help develop Nan Fung Group’s U.S. real estate business. Mr. Sun served as a director at Deutsche Bank in the structured products department from 1997 to 2003, and as a director at Morgan Stanley in the structured products department from 2003 to 2007. Thereafter, Mr. Sun served as a managing director at Deutsche Bank in the structured products department from 2007 to 2009 and as a managing director at Morgan Stanley in the investment banking department from 2009 to 2014. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank in 1997, he served as a vice president of the capital markets department of Merrill Lynch, where he focused on trading fixed income derivatives. He was employed at Merrill Lynch from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Sun has been a director of Chenghe Acquisition Co. since April 2022, and Chenghe Acquisition Co. subsequently changed its name to Semilux International Ltd after its business combination in February 2024. Mr. Sun has been a director of Chenghe Acquisition II Co. since June 2024. Mr. Sun served as a director of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. from October 2023 to January 2025. Mr. Sun graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. We believe Mr. Sun is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive and relevant business experience across a range of positions, markets, and fields.
Qingjian Wang will serve as an independent director of our company immediately upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form S-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Qingjian Wang has served as a partner at Haiwen & Partners LLP since 2018 and has served as its managing partner since February 2022. In addition, Mr. Wang has served as the sole director of Jabez Capital Limited since June 2020. Mr. Wang has nearly 20 years of legal experience, focusing on investment funds, private equity, and venture capital investments. Before joining Haiwen & Partners LLP, he practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton from 2016 to 2018 and at O’Melveny & Myers from 2004 to 2016. Mr. Wang earned an LLB degree from Shanghai Fudan University in 2004 and an LLM degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2009. He is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong and New York and has passed the PRC bar examination. We believe Mr. Wang is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive legal expertise spanning Hong Kong, the United States, and the PRC, particularly in investment funds, private equity, and venture capital investments. His experience in navigating complex cross-border legal and compliance matters will provide valuable insights and strategic guidance to the company.
Ningrong Liu will serve as an independent director of our company immediately upon the effectiveness of our registration statement on Form S-1, of which this prospectus is a part. Ningrong Liu has served as an Associate Vice President at The University of Hong Kong since September 2022. Additionally, Mr. Liu has served as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong since September 2000 and began serving as a Professor in September 2022. Since July 2010, Mr. Liu has served as a Director at the Institute for China Business at The University of Hong Kong. From July 2015 to August 2022, Mr. Liu served as the Deputy Director of Business and China at The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education. From February 2010 to July 2015, Mr. Liu served as the Associate Director at The University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education. Mr. Liu served as an Assistant Director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong from April 2000 to September 2000. Mr. Liu earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language & Literature from Nankai University in 1984, a Master’s of Communications from Indiana University Bloomington in 1995, and a Doctor of Education in Education Management from the University of Bristol in 2007. We believe Mr. Liu is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive academic and leadership experience, including over two decades of service at The University of Hong Kong in various senior roles, and his broad expertise in education management, business, and communications.
Advisory Board
We have established an advisory board, the role and functions of which will be determined by the board of directors from time to time. We currently expect our advisory board to, upon the request of the directors, provide its business insights (i) in sourcing potential business combination targets, (ii) when we assess potential business combination targets and (iii) as we work to create additional value in the business or businesses that we acquire. The role of the advisory board is consultative in nature to support our directors and officers in operating our business, and it will not perform managerial board or committee functions. Members of the advisory board will not be subject to the
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fiduciary requirements to which our board of directors are subject, nor will advisory board members have any internal voting or decision making role, or any authority to act on our behalf. The board of directors is not required to follow any advice, comments or recommendations of the advisory board in relation to the matters described herein. We have not entered into any agreements governing our relationship with any members of our advisory board, and we may modify or expand our roster of advisory board members as we source potential business combination targets or work to create value in the business or businesses that we acquire.
Richard Li currently serves on our advisory board and is the chairman of the advisory board.
Richard Qi Li has more than two decades of experience in the financial service industry. Until February 2021, Mr. Li had been, from 2017, the Chief Investment Officer and, from 2019, the Chief Operating Officer of China Great Wall AMC (International) Holdings Company Limited and, from 2018, the Chief Executive Officer of Great Wall Pan Asia Asset Management Ltd., both subsidiaries of China Great Wall Asset Management Co. Ltd., a leading asset management company based in China. Mr. Li was previously a managing director and the head of China securities at Goldman Sachs Asia, and a managing director and the head of North Asia capital markets and treasury solutions at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Mr. Li worked at Merrill Lynch, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC. Since April 2021, Mr. Li served as the Chief Executive Officer and director of HH&L Acquisition Co., a New York Stock Exchange-listed blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. From April 2022 to February 2024, he also served as Chairman of Chenghe Acquisition Co., a NASDAQ-listed blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Since October 2023, he has also served as the chairman of the advisory board of Chenghe Acquisition I Co. and Chenghe Acquisition II Co.
Mr. Li has worked with or advised many financial institutions in Greater China on capital markets activities, sales and trading of fixed income products and structured equities, investment, risk management, and/or building up trading or asset management platforms. His clients or counterparts have included leading sovereign wealth funds (State Administration of Foreign Exchange and China Investment Corporation), large banks (Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Merchants Bank), insurers (China Life, PICC, Ping An Insurance) and asset managers (National Social Security Fund, China Asset Management and Harvest Fund). Mr. Li also advised Shanghai Pudong Development Bank in connection with the formation of a business alliance and the establishment of a credit card joint venture with Citibank in 2002. In addition, Mr. Li’s experience includes investment in Meituan Dianping, one of China’s top-tier e-commerce companies, We Doctor Holdings Limited, one of China’s top-tier online healthcare companies, Biotest AG, a Germany-based blood plasma products marker, and Bio Products Laboratory Ltd., a UK-based plasma biotherapeutics company. He has also been involved, as either an investor or an advisor, in investments in the consumer, energy and real estate sectors in Asia and globally. Mr. Li also has experience leading several significant capital raising transactions.
Mr. Li obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in economics from Nankai University in China and a master of business administration from Columbia Business School. He was also a visiting scholar at Harvard University in 2019.
We believe our management team has the skills and experience to identify, evaluate and consummate a business combination and is positioned to assist businesses we acquire. However, our management team’s network of contacts, and its investing and operating experience, do not guarantee a successful initial business combination. The members of our management team are not required to devote any significant amount of time to our business and are involved with other businesses. We cannot guarantee that our current officers and directors will continue in their respective roles, or in any other role, after our initial business combination, and their expertise may only be of benefit to us until we complete our initial business combination. Past performance by our management team is not a guarantee of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Following the commencement of trading of our securities on Nasdaq, Our board of directors will consist of five members and will be divided into three classes with only one class of directors being appointed in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. 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,
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consisting of Kwan Sun, will expire at our first annual general meeting. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Ningrong Liu and Qingjian Wang, will expire at the second annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Dr. Shibin Wang and Lyle Wang, will expire at the third annual general meeting.
Only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to the rights of holders of Class B ordinary shares to appoint directors may be amended by a special resolution passed by at least 90% of such members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting, or by way of unanimous written resolution.
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 memorandum and articles of association.
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. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person who, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect to have three “independent directors” as defined in Nasdaq rules and applicable SEC rules prior to completion of this offering. Our board of directors has determined that each of Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu will be an “independent director” as defined in Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Officer, Director and Advisory Board Member Compensation
None of our officers, directors or advisory board members have received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our co-sponsors, officers or directors or members of our advisory board, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made from funds held outside the trust account.
We are not prohibited from paying any fees (including advisory fees), reimbursements or cash payments to our co-sponsors, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, including the following payments, all of which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from (i) funds held outside the trust account or (ii) permitted withdrawals:
• Repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by Cayman Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
• Payment to Cayman Sponsor of $15,000 per month, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees;
• Reimbursement for any out of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;
• Payment of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination; and
• Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans; and
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• $52,000 payment to CBC Securities in underwriting compensation. This includes a $50,000 structuring services fee and an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions; and
• We may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services to us in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash.
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 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 co-sponsors, 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 shareholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed initial 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 initial business combination, because the directors of the post-combination entity will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
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 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 officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Upon the effective date 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. Both our audit committee and our compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules, the rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of Nasdaq require that the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our board and will have the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee will be available on our website following the closing of this offering.
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. Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu will serve as members, and Kwan Sun will serve as the Chairman of the audit committee. Each of Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu is independent of and unaffiliated with our co-sponsors and our underwriters. Under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, all the directors on the audit committee must be independent.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Kwan Sun qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
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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 auditors; 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 auditors 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 auditors’ 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 auditors, 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
• reviewing with management, the independent auditors, 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. Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu will serve as members, and Qingjian Wang will serve as the chairman of the compensation committee. Each of Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu is independent of and unaffiliated with our co-sponsors and our underwriters.
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’s 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;
• assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
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• 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 Cayman Sponsor of $15,000 per month, for up to 18 months, for office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative services and reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing shareholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to 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.
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. Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu will serve as members, and Qingjian Wang will serve as the chairman, of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of Kwan Sun, Qingjian Wang and Ningrong Liu is independent of and unaffiliated with our co-sponsors and our underwriters.
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, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for appointment at the annual general meeting 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 shareholders. 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.
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We will file a copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics as an exhibit 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 of our board of directors 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
Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties:
(i) duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;
(ii) duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;
(iii) directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;
(iv) duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders;
(v) duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and
(vi) duty to exercise independent judgment.
In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge skill and experience of that director.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.
Mr. Li, currently the sole member of the advisory board, and any future members of the advisory board are not subject to any of the fiduciary duties described above. Other than transactions disclosed herein, Mr. Li has no contractual or other obligations to perform specific duties or avoid conflicts of interest in his capacity as a member of the advisory board.
Each of our officers and directors and advisory board members presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer, director or advisory board member is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly,
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if any of our officers, directors or advisory board members 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, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. In particular, certain members of our management team have served and/or currently serve as officers and directors of other SPACs. As a result, our co-sponsors, officers, and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other blank check company with which they may become involved. Members of our management team have complete discretion, subject to applicable fiduciary duties, as to which blank check company they choose to pursue a business combination and the order in which they pursue business combinations for any of their existing or future blank check companies. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. However, particularly considering that other SPACs of which members of our management have served as officers or directors have either consummated their business combinations or entered into a definitive agreement in relation thereto, we do not believe that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers, directors or advisory board members will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
We may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
|
Individual |
Position |
Entity |
Entity’s Business |
Affiliation with Entity |
||||
|
Shibin Wang |
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
Chenghe Acquisition II Co. |
Blank check company |
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
||||
|
Hong Kong Digital Asset Ex Ltd. |
Digital Asset Exchange |
Chief Business Officer |
||||||
|
Lyle Wang |
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
Chenghe Acquisition II Co. |
Blank check company |
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
||||
|
Houston Li |
Chief Operating Officer |
CBC Securities |
Capital investment |
Associate |
||||
|
Kwan Sun |
Independent director nominee |
Chenghe Acquisition II Co. |
Blank check company |
Director |
||||
|
Semilux International Ltd |
Technology |
Director |
||||||
|
Qingjian Wang |
Independent director nominee |
Jabez Capital Unlimited |
Capital investment |
Director |
Currently, Mr. Ningrong Liu does not owe any fiduciary duties, or otherwise have any contractual obligations to any other entity.
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
•
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any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.
•
•
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, officers or directors or advisory board members or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our co-sponsors, officers or directors or advisory board members. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, officers or directors or advisory board members, 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 co-sponsors, any of our existing officers or directors, or advisory board members 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 on which our securities are first listed on Nasdaq, we will also pay Cayman Sponsor $15,000 per month for office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative services provided to us pursuant to a services agreement.
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 shareholders for a vote, our co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares, and they and the other members of our management team have agreed to vote their founder shares and any shares purchased during or after the offering in favor of our initial business combination (except that any public shares such parties may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the proposed business combination).
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Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers, Directors and Advisory Board Members
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers, directors and advisory board members, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide for indemnification of our officers, directors and advisory board members to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We will enter into agreements with our directors and officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. We expect to purchase a policy of directors’, officers’ and advisory board members’ liability insurance that insures our officers, directors and advisory board members against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers, directors and advisory board members.
Our officers and directors and advisory board members have agreed, and we will require any future member of our advisory board to agree, to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.
Our indemnification obligations may discourage shareholders 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, directors and advisory board members, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders.
Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers, directors and advisory board members pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers, directors and advisory board members.
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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our Class A ordinary shares 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 ordinary shares;
• each of our executive officers, directors and director nominees; and
• all our executive officers, directors and director nominees 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 ordinary shares beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement units as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
On December 5, 2024, Cayman Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain expenses on our behalf in consideration of 4,312,500 founder shares for a purchase price of approximately $0.006 per share. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by Cayman 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 12,650,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares). Up to 550,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited 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 shareholders have forfeited 550,000 founder shares, and that there are 15,041,667 ordinary shares, consisting of (i) 11,375,000 Class A ordinary shares and (ii) 3,666,667 Class B ordinary shares, issued and outstanding after this offering.
|
Before Offering |
After Offering |
|||||||||
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Number |
Approximate |
Number |
Approximate |
||||||
|
Chenghe Investment III Limited |
2,364,667 |
56.1 |
% |
2,106,232 |
14 |
% |
||||
|
Chenghe Investment III LLC |
1,852,000 |
43.9 |
% |
1,825,435 |
12.1 |
% |
||||
|
Shibin Wang |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
|
Lyle Wang |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
|
Houston Li(7) |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
|
Qingjian Wang |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
|
Kwan Sun |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
|
Ningrong Liu |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
|
All executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group (6 individuals) |
— |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
||||
____________
* Less than one percent.
(1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following is 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore, 189767.
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(2) Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as Class B ordinary shares. Such shares will (unless otherwise provided in our initial business combination agreement) automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities” and with respect to the interests held after this offering, 375,000 Class A ordinary shares issuable pursuant to a private placement.
(3) Chenghe Investment III Limited, our co-sponsor, is the record holder of the shares reported herein. Richard Li, a member of our advisory board, indirectly owns all outstanding equity interest of Cayman Sponsor and accordingly has voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held as of record by Cayman Sponsor and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by Cayman Sponsor. Each of our officers and directors disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest they may have therein, directly or indirectly.
(4) The record holder of the shares reported herein is Chenghe Investment III LLC, our co-sponsor, of which the manager is Chenghe Investment III Limited, our co-sponsor. Richard Li, a member of our advisory board, indirectly owns all outstanding equity interest of Cayman Sponsor and accordingly has voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held as of record by Cayman Sponsor and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by Cayman Sponsor.
(5) Includes up to 550,000 founder shares that will be forfeited depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(6) The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing, through Delaware Sponsor, the private placement units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, Delaware Sponsor will issue non-managing membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the sponsor non-managing members reflecting interests in an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor.
(7) Houston Li is the son of Richard Li, who is the controlling shareholder of Cayman Sponsor, which is also the manager of Delaware Sponsor.
Immediately after this offering, our initial shareholders will beneficially own approximately 26% of the then issued and outstanding ordinary shares (including founder shares and private placement shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors in any election held prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the appointment of any directors to our board of directors prior to our initial business combination. Because of this ownership block, our initial shareholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all other matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of significant corporate transactions including our initial business combination.
Our co-sponsors, Chenghe Investment III Limited and Chenghe Investment III LLC, have committed to purchase an aggregate of 265,000 private placement units (or 281,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,650,000 (or $2,815,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 private placement units (or 126,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 (or $1,265,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, the private placement units will expire worthless. The private placement units are subject to the transfer restrictions described below. In addition, the private placement units to be purchased by the underwriters and/or their permitted designees, are deemed underwriters’ compensation by FINRA and are subject to limitations in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110. Otherwise, the private placement units have terms and provisions that are identical to the units being sold in this offering.
Chenghe Investment III Limited, our co-sponsor, and our executive officers are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
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Expression of Interest
The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing, through Delaware Sponsor, the private placement units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, Delaware Sponsor will issue non-managing membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the sponsor non-managing members reflecting interests in an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor.
The sponsor non-managing members are not granted any shareholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to our other public shareholders, and will only be issued membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, with no right to control Cayman Sponsor or vote or dispose of any securities held by Delaware Sponsor, including the founder shares and the private placement units held by Delaware Sponsor. Additionally, the sole manager of Delaware Sponsor is Cayman Sponsor. The managing member of Cayman Sponsor is Chenghe Group, a British Virgin Islands incorporated company owned by the Chairman of our Advisory Board, Mr. Li. Mr. Li controls the management of Cayman Sponsor, and therefore Delaware Sponsor. Mr. Li is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong. Further, the sponsor non-managing members are not required to (i) hold any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants they may purchase in this offering or thereafter for any amount of time, or enter into a lock-up agreement with us or the underwriters with respect to any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants, (ii) vote any Class A ordinary shares they may own at the applicable time in favor of our initial business combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their public shares at the time of our initial business combination. The sponsor non-managing members will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the units they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public shareholders.
Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units
The founder shares, private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and any Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in a letter agreement entered into by our initial shareholders and management team. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (a) in the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of: (i) six months after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier if, subsequent to our initial business combination, the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property and (b) in the case of the private placement units, the private placement warrants included in the private placement units, and the respective Class A ordinary shares underlying such units and 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 co-sponsors or to any member of the co-sponsors, any of their affiliates, or any employees of the co-sponsors, any of its affiliates or any of their respective 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 or warrants were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or Cayman Sponsor’s memorandum and articles of association, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware or Delaware Sponsor’s certificate of formation, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or the winding-up and liquidation of our co-sponsors, (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, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other
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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.
The table below sets forth the material contractual terms of lock-up arrangements between us and our co-sponsors, officers and directors and other affiliates:
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Lock-up under Letter Agreement with our co-sponsors, officers and directors and other affiliates |
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Lock-up Parties |
Our initial shareholders and other holders of the subject securities listed above |
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Subject Securities |
The founder shares, private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and any Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion or exercise thereof |
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Lock-up Period |
• In the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of: (i) six months after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier if, subsequent to our initial business combination, the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination and (ii) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property |
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• In the case of the private placement units, the private placement warrants included in the private placement units, and the respective Class A ordinary shares underlying such units and warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination |
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Exceptions |
The above transfer restrictions are not applicable to transfers of the subject securities (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of our officers or directors, any affiliate of our co-sponsors or to any member of the co-sponsors, any of their affiliates, or any employees of the co-sponsors, any of its affiliates or any of their respective 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 or warrants were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or Cayman Sponsor’s memorandum and articles of association, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware or Delaware Sponsor’s certificate of formation, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or the winding-up and liquidation of our co-sponsors, (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, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property; 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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Lock-up Parties |
We, our co-sponsors and our officers and directors |
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Subject Securities |
any units, warrants, shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares |
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Lock-up Period |
180 days from the date of this prospectus |
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Exceptions |
The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. |
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The co-sponsors’ membership interests (including the interests held by the non-managing members) are locked up and not transferable because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers.
While non-managing members will not be a direct party to the letter agreement discussed above, as a result of their ownership of membership interests in Delaware Sponsor, they will be bound by the restrictions set forth above with respect to their allocated founder shares, the private placement units and securities underlying the private placement units (including the restriction on transfer of their membership interests because the letter agreement prohibits indirect transfers).
The securities held by Delaware Sponsor are expected to only be distributed directly to the members of the Delaware Sponsor upon the consummation of our initial business combination, provided that such members agree to become subject to the applicable transfer restrictions with respect to such securities, including the letter agreement. Indirect transfers of the securities held by Delaware Sponsor, such as to another member of the Delaware Sponsor or their affiliate, a family member or a new member of the Delaware Sponsor, may be permitted with the prior consent of Cayman Sponsor, the manager of Delaware Sponsor, so long as such transfer complies with the applicable transfer restrictions with respect to such securities to the same extent as the party originally subject to such restrictions.
The private placement units (including private placement shares and private placement warrants underlying such private placement units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such private placement warrants) have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to the lock-up restrictions imposed by FINRA Rule 5110(e), pursuant to which these securities will not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of this offering except as permitted under FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2) including to any member participating in the offering and the officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof. We have granted BTIG and its designees certain registration rights relating to these securities. In addition, for as long as the placement warrants underlying the placement units are held by BTIG and/or its permitted designees, they may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales of this offering.
Registration Rights
The holders of the (i) founder shares, which were issued in a private placement prior to the closing of this offering, (ii) private placement units, which will be issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, private placement shares, private placement warrants and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such private placement warrants and (iii) private placement 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 $1,500,000 of working capital loans are converted into private placement units, we will be obligated to register up to 5,053,667 Class A ordinary shares and 279,000 warrants. The number of Class A ordinary shares includes (i) 4,216,667 Class A ordinary shares to be issued upon conversion of the founder shares, (ii) 408,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the private placement units, (iii) 204,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the private placement warrants, (iv) 150,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying working capital units and (v) 75,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the working capital warrants underlying the working capital units. The number of warrants includes 204,000 private placement warrants and 75,000 warrants issued as part of the units upon conversion of working capital loans. 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, BTIG and/or its permitted designees may not exercise their demand and “piggy back” registration rights beyond five and seven years, respectively, after the commencement of sales of this offering and may not exercise their demand rights on more than one occasion.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On December 5, 2024, Cayman Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain expenses on our behalf in consideration of 4,312,500 founder shares for a purchase price of approximately $0.006 per share. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 12,650,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and therefore that such founder shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares).
Our co-sponsors, Chenghe Investment III Limited and Chenghe Investment III LLC, have committed to purchase an aggregate of 265,000 private placement units (or 281,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,650,000 (or $2,815,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 private placement units (or 126,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 (or $1,265,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement units are identical to the units included as part of the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus. The private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Richard Li, a member of our advisory board, indirectly owns all outstanding equity interest of Chenghe Investment III Limited and accordingly has voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held as of record by Chenghe Investment III Limited and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by Chenghe Investment III Limited. Houston Li is the son of Richard Li, who is the controlling shareholder of Chenghe Investment III, which is also the manager of Chenghe Investment III LLC.
The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest in purchasing all of the interest in Delaware Sponsor reflecting an interest in an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per interest for an aggregate purchase price of $2,150,000 (or $2,315,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each sponsor non-managing member purchasing, through Delaware Sponsor, the private placement units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, Delaware Sponsor will issue non-managing membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the sponsor non-managing members reflecting interests in an aggregate of 1,610,435 founder shares (or 1,852,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) held by Delaware Sponsor.
We currently utilize office space at 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore, 189767. Subsequent to the closing of this offering, we will pay Cayman Sponsor a total of $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.
Our co-sponsors, 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 co-sponsors, officers, 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, including permitted withdrawals.
On December 5, 2024, Cayman Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Sponsor Note”). The Sponsor Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of December 31, 2026 or the closing of this offering.
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In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 working capital loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the private placement units. The terms of such working capital loans by Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates, or our officers and directors, 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 Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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.
Any of the foregoing payments to Cayman Sponsor, repayments of loans from Cayman 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 shareholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, furnished to our shareholders. 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 general meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination entity to determine executive and director compensation.
CBC Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor and Delaware Sponsor, is acting as a co-manager and one of the underwriters in connection with this offering. For structuring services provided by CBC Securities in connection with this offering, we have agreed to pay CBC Securities a $50,000 fee. CBC Securities will also receive an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions. We may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
We have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares and private placement units, which is described under the heading “Principal Shareholders — Registration Rights.”
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 shareholders 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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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and our affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands. Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association which will be adopted prior to the consummation of this offering, we will be authorized to issue 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. The following description summarizes certain terms of our share capital as set out more particularly in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Public Units
Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable public warrant. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. For example, if a warrant holder holds one-half of one warrant to purchase a Class A ordinary share, such warrant will not be exercisable. If a warrant holder holds two-halves of one warrant, such whole warrant will be exercisable for one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. The Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising the units are expected to begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless the representative informs us of their 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 Class A ordinary shares and warrants 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 Class A ordinary shares and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.
In no event will the Class A ordinary shares and warrants 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, including, if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option simultaneously with the initial closing, the proceeds of the over-allotment. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes this audited balance sheet promptly after the completion of this offering, which closing is anticipated to take place three business days after the date of this prospectus.
Private Placement Units
The private placement units (including the private placement shares, the private placement warrants or private placement shares issuable upon exercise of 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 Shareholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our co-sponsors). Otherwise, the private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that the private placement warrants will be entitled to registration rights, as described below under “— Redeemable Warrants — Private Placement Warrants”.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman 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 working capital loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the private placement units, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period of the underlying warrants. The terms of such working capital loans by Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates, or our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
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.
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BTIG has committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 private placement units (or 126,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 (or $1,265,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in the private placement that will occur simultaneously with the completion of this offering. The terms of the private placement units are identical to the units being sold in this offering, except that the private placement units are subject to certain limited exceptions as described elsewhere in this prospectus. The private placement units and underlying ordinary shares and warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to the lock-up restrictions imposed by FINRA Rule 5110(e), pursuant to which these securities will not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days beginning on the commencement of sales of this offering except as permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2) including to any member participating in the offering and the officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof. In addition, for as long as the placement warrants underlying the placement units are held by BTIG and/or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales of this offering. We have granted BTIG and its designees certain registration rights relating to these securities. BTIG and/or its designees may not exercise their demand and “piggy back” registration rights beyond five and seven years, respectively, after the commencement of sales of this offering and may not exercise their demand rights on more than one occasion.
Ordinary Shares
Prior to the date of this prospectus, there were 4,216,667 Class B ordinary shares outstanding, all of which were held of record by our initial shareholders. Immediately after this offering, our initial shareholders will beneficially own approximately 26% of the then issued and outstanding ordinary shares (including founder shares and private placement shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Up to 550,000 of the founder shares will be forfeited by our initial shareholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised. Upon the closing of this offering, 15,041,667 of our ordinary shares will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of 550,000 founder shares for no consideration by our initial shareholders) including:
• 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying public units issued as part of this offering;
• 3,666,667 Class B ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders; and
• 375,000 Class A ordinary Shares underlying private placement units to be held by our co-sponsors and the underwriters.
Holders of ordinary shares of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders except as required by law; provided that holders of our Class B ordinary shares will have the right to elect and remove all of our directors prior to our initial business combination and holders of our Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on the election or removal of directors during such time. Unless specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our ordinary shares that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our shareholders. Approval of certain actions will require a special resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a majority of at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, and pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association such actions include amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being appointed in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the appointment of directors can elect all of the directors. However, only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors in any election held prior to the completion of our initial business combination, meaning that holders of Class A ordinary shares will not have the right to vote on the appointment of any directors until after the completion of our initial business combination.
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In addition, only the Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote to continue our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands. The provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination may only be amended by a special resolution, which is a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, which shall include the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Class B ordinary shares. Our shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorize the issuance of up to 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, if we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of Class A ordinary shares which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our shareholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or extraordinary general meetings or elect directors. We may not hold an annual general meeting to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares 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 permitted withdrawals), 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. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters.
Our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, 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. Unlike many special purpose acquisition companies that hold shareholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a shareholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other 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 shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive the approval of an ordinary resolution under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution. However, the participation of our co-sponsors, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public shareholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of an ordinary resolution, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association require that at least five days’ notice will be given of any general meeting.
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If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our shareholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such shareholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such shareholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And, as a result, such shareholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 20% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares, private placement securities and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination (except that any public shares such parties may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the proposed business combination). As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares and private placement securities, we would need 3,479,167, or approximately 31.6% of the 11,000,000 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 all outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a greater majority than an ordinary resolution). Assuming that the holders of only one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are present in person or by proxy, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and all such shares held by our initial shareholders are voted, we would not need any of the 11,000,000 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 overallotment option is not exercised and applicable law does not require approval by a higher threshold than an ordinary resolution). Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction or whether they were a public shareholder on the record date for the general meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we 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 permitted withdrawals 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 shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial shareholders 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 private placement shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window. However, if our initial shareholders 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.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our shareholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of shares, if any, having preference over the ordinary shares. Our shareholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the ordinary shares, except that we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
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Founder Shares
The founder shares are designated as Class B ordinary shares and, except as described below, are identical to the Class A ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering, and holders of founder shares have the same shareholder rights as public shareholders, except that (i) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, (ii) the founder shares are entitled to registration rights, and (iii) only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination and on a vote to continue our company in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands. Our initial shareholders, co-sponsors, 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, private placement 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, private placement shares, and public shares they hold in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ 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 and private placement shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such time period. Additionally, (i) the founder shares are automatically convertible into Class A ordinary shares (unless otherwise provided in our initial business combination agreement) concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, and may be converted at any time prior to our initial business combination, at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described herein and in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; and (ii) only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. If we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote their founder shares, private placement shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination (subject to the limitations described in this prospectus).
The founder shares will automatically convert (unless otherwise provided in our initial business combination agreement) into Class A ordinary shares at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all founder shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 25% of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion, including the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of an initial business combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities or rights exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement units issued to Cayman Sponsor or our officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans, provided that such conversion of founder shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
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 co-sponsors, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of: (i) six months after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier if, subsequent to our initial business combination, the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination, and (ii) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Up to 550,000 founder shares will be forfeited by our initial shareholders depending on the exercise of the over-allotment option.
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Register of Members
Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there will be entered therein:
• the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member, and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member and the voting rights of the shares of each member;
• whether voting rights are attached to the share in issue;
• the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
• the date on which any person ceased to be a member.
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e. the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members will be deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon the closing of this public offering, the register of members will be immediately updated to reflect the issue of shares. Once our register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. If an application for an order for rectification of the register of members were made in respect of our ordinary shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.
Preference Shares
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorize 1,000,000 preference shares and provide that preference shares 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 shareholder approval, issue preference shares with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the ordinary shares and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preference shares without shareholder 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 preference shares outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any preference shares, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future. No preference shares are being issued or registered in this offering.
Warrants
Public Shareholders’ Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, provided that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares 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. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of Class A ordinary shares. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
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We will not be obligated to deliver any Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue a Class A ordinary share upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A ordinary share issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the Class A ordinary share underlying such unit.
We are registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part because the warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, which may be within one year of this offering. However, because the warrants will be exercisable until their expiration date of up to five years after the completion of our initial business combination, in order to comply with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act following the consummation of our initial business combination under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement covering the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and thereafter will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following our initial business combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the sixtieth (60th) business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Redemption of warrants for cash
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the public warrants for redemption for cash:
• in whole and not in part;
• upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder; and
• at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, and only if, the closing price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and for certain issuances of Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination as described elsewhere in this prospectus) on each of 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending three business days before we send to the notice of redemption to the warrant holders and there is an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period;
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If and when the warrants become redeemable by us for cash, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A ordinary shares may fall below the applicable redemption trigger price (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and for certain issuances of Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination as described elsewhere in this prospectus) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption procedures and cashless exercise
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above under “— Redemption of warrants for cash,” our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his, her or its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our shareholders of issuing the maximum number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Class A ordinary shares (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” will mean the average closing price of the Class A ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of Class A ordinary shares to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants after our initial business combination.
A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) of the Class A ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
If the number of outstanding Class A ordinary shares is increased by a share capitalization payable in Class A ordinary shares, or by a split-up of ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, split-up or similar event, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding ordinary shares. A rights offering to holders of ordinary shares entitling holders to purchase Class A ordinary shares at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a share capitalization of a number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A ordinary shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A ordinary shares) and (ii) the quotient of (x) the price per Class A ordinary share paid in such rights offering and (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A ordinary shares, in determining the price payable for Class A ordinary shares, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A ordinary shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Class A ordinary shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A ordinary shares on account of such Class A ordinary shares (or other securities into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A ordinary shares
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in connection with a proposed initial business combination, or (d) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each Class A ordinary share in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding Class A ordinary shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Class A ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Class A ordinary shares.
Whenever the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of Class A ordinary shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In addition, if (x) we issue additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities, for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our initial shareholders or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Class A ordinary shares during the 10-trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) of our Class A ordinary shares is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Class A ordinary shares (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such Class A ordinary shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the Class A ordinary shares immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of Class A ordinary shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, and that all other modifications or amendments will require the vote or written consent of the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding warrants. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not
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have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive Class A ordinary shares. After the issuance of Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York located in the County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. See “Risk Factors — Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York located in the County 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 warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.” This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, investors cannot waive compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder as a result of these exclusive forum provisions.
Private Placement Warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private placement 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 Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the initial purchasers of the private placement units). The private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus.
The private placement warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price for each full ordinary share as to which the warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the warrant, the exchange of the warrant for the ordinary shares and the issuance of such ordinary shares (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), with respect to any private placement warrant, by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value,” over the warrant price by (y) the Fair Market Value, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported closing price of our ordinary shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the warrant is sent to the warrant agent.
Our redemption rights as described in “— Public Shareholders’ Warrants — Redemption of Warrants for Cash” shall not apply to the private placement warrants.
Working Capital Warrants
In order to finance our transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of Cayman Sponsor or our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan to us funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 150,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit, each consisting of one ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant, and in connection with any issuance of working capital units, the issuance of up to 75,000 warrants. The working capital warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus.
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The working capital warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price for each full ordinary share as to which the warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the warrant, the exchange of the warrant for the ordinary shares and the issuance of such ordinary shares (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), with respect to any working capital warrants, by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value,” over the warrant price by (y) the Fair Market Value, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported closing price of our ordinary shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the warrant is sent to the warrant agent.
Our redemption rights as described in “— Public Shareholders’ Warrants — Redemption of Warrants for Cash” shall not apply to the working capital warrants.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. A Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend on its shares out of either profit or the share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if following such payment the company would be unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. 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 share 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 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares). 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 and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our ordinary shares and warrant agent for our warrants is Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its shareholders, 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. Odyssey 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.
Certain Differences in Corporate Law
Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English law but does not follow recent English law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. In certain circumstances, the Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).
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Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of 66⅔% in value of the voting shares voted at a general meeting) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation.
Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.
Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands exempted company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation. Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; and (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters
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holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.
Moreover, Cayman Islands law has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedures for which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved (i) in relation to a compromise or arrangement between a company and its creditors or any class of them, a majority in number of such creditors or class of creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of such creditors or class of creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a general meeting summoned for that purpose; and (ii) in relation to a compromise or arrangement between a company and its shareholders or any class of them, shareholders who represent three-fourths in value of the company’s shareholders or class of shareholders, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a general meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
• we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;
• the shareholders have been fairly represented at the general meeting in question;
• the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and
• the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”
If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights (providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares), which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations.
Squeeze-out Provisions. When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer relates is made within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through means other than these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, or through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.
Shareholders’ Suits. Ogier, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, is not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based both on Cayman Islands authorities and on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:
• a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority
• the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or
• those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”
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A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities. The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.
We have been advised by Ogier, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors and officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce such foreign money judgment without re-examination or re-litigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided that (1) the U.S. court issuing the judgment is of competent jurisdiction; (2) the U.S. Judgment is final and imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum; (3) the judgment given by the U.S. Court was not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty or similar fiscal or revenue obligation of the company; (4) in obtaining judgment there was no fraud on part of the person in whose favor judgment was given or on part of the court; and (5) recognition or enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to public policy or natural justice in the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
Special Considerations for Exempted Companies. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
• an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
• an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;
• an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
• an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;
• an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);
• an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
• an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and
• an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contains provisions designed to provide certain rights and protections relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without a special resolution. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a resolution is deemed to be a special resolution where it has been approved by either (i) at least two-thirds (or any higher threshold specified in a company’s articles of association) of a company’s shareholders present in person or by proxy and voting at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special
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resolution has been given; or (ii) if so authorized by a company’s articles of association, by a unanimous written resolution of all of the company’s shareholders. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that special resolutions must be approved either by at least two-thirds of our shareholders present in person or by proxy and voting (i.e., the lowest threshold permissible under Cayman Islands law), or by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders.
Our initial shareholders, who will collectively beneficially own 25% of our ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares) may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Specifically, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide, among other things, that:
• 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 permitted withdrawals 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 shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the requirements of other applicable law;
• Prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities (other than the Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares) that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on our initial business combination;
• Although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our co-sponsors, 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 or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;
• If a shareholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.
• We must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes paid or payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of execution of the definitive agreement for such business combination;
• If our shareholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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 with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein; and
• We will not effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
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• Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in us, including but not limited to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any of our current or former director, officer or other employee to us or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States of America) and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provide that, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that we may have, each of our shareholders acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly we shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum. The forum selection provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will not apply to actions or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States of America, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim.
The Companies Act permits a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands to amend its memorandum and articles of association with the approval of a special resolution. A company’s articles of association may specify that the approval of a higher majority is required but, provided the approval of the required majority is obtained, any Cayman Islands exempted company may amend its memorandum and articles of association regardless of whether its memorandum and articles of association provide otherwise. Accordingly, although we could amend any of the provisions relating to our proposed offering, structure and business plan which are contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we view all of these provisions as binding obligations to our shareholders and neither we, nor our officers or directors, will take any action to amend or waive any of these provisions unless we provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares.
Anti-Money Laundering — Cayman Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures and will require subscribers to provide information and evidence to verify their identity, address and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
We reserve the right to request such information and evidence as is necessary to verify the identity, address and source of funds of a subscriber.
In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information or evidence required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited. We will not be liable for any loss suffered by a subscriber arising as a result of a refusal of, or delay in processing, an application from a subscriber if such information and documentation requested has not been provided by the subscriber in a timely manner.
We also reserve the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment of redemption proceeds to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the
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course of their business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) a nominated officer (appointed in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised), if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering or (ii) to the Financial Reporting Authority or a police constable or a nominated officer (pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands), if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and terrorist property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
By subscribing for shares, the subscriber consents to the disclosure of any information about them to regulators and others upon request in connection with money laundering and similar matters both in the Cayman Islands and in other jurisdictions.
Economic Substance — Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands, together with several other non-European Union jurisdictions, have introduced legislation aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Council of the European Union and the OECD as to offshore structures engaged in certain activities which attract profits without real economic activity. The International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (Revised) (the “Substance Act”) came into force in the Cayman Islands in January 2019, introducing certain economic substance requirements for in-scope Cayman Islands entities which are engaged in certain geographically mobile business activities (“relevant activities.”) As we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, compliance obligations include filing annual notifications, in which need to state whether we are carrying out any relevant activities and if so, whether we have satisfied economic substance tests to the extent required under the Substance Act. It is anticipated that our Company will not be engaging in any “relevant activities” and will therefore not be required need to meet the economic substance requirements tests or will otherwise be subject to more limited substance requirements. However, as it is a relatively new regime, it is anticipated that the Substance Act will evolve and be subject to further clarification and amendments. Failure to satisfy applicable requirements may subject us to penalties under the Substance Act.
Cayman Islands Data Protection
We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice, or orders promulgates pursuant thereto (the “DPA”) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.
Privacy Notice
Introduction
This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that through your investment in the company you will provide us with certain personal information which constitutes personal data within the meaning of the DPA (“personal data”).
In the following discussion, the “company” refers to us and our affiliates and/or delegates, except where the context requires otherwise.
We are committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In our use of personal data, we will be characterized under the DPA as a “data controller,” whilst certain of our service providers, affiliates, and delegates may act as “data processors” under the DPA. These service providers may process personal data for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us. For the purposes of this Privacy Notice, “you” or “your” shall mean the subscriber and shall also include any individual connected to the subscriber.
By virtue of your investment in the Company, we and certain of our service providers may collect, record, store, transfer, and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified. We may combine personal data that you provide to use with personal data that we collect from, or about you. This may include personal data collected in an online or offline context including from credit reference agencies and other available public databases or data sources, such as news outlines, websites and other media sources and international sanctions lists.
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Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for us to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request, (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax, or regulatory obligation to which we are subject, (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by us or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed, or (d) where you otherwise consent to the processing of personal data for any other specific purpose. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.
We anticipate that we will share your personal data with our service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory, prosecuting, and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g. to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion, and financial crime or compliance with a court order).
Your personal data shall not be held by the Company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.
We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.
We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction, or damage to the personal data.
Investor Data
We will collect, use, disclose, retain and secure personal data to the extent reasonably required only and within the parameters that could be reasonably expected during the normal course of business. We will only process, disclose, transfer or retain personal data to the extent legitimately required to conduct our activities of on an ongoing basis or to comply with legal and regulatory obligations to which we are subject. We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.
In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a “data controller” for the purposes of the DPA, while our affiliates and service providers who may receive this personal data from us in the conduct of our activities may either act as our “data processors” for the purposes of the DPA or may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us. We may also obtain personal data from other public sources. Personal data includes, without limitation, the following information relating to a shareholder and/or any individuals connected with a shareholder as an investor: name, residential address, email address, contact details, corporate contact information, signature, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, tax identification, credit history, correspondence records, passport number, bank account details, source of funds details and details relating to the shareholder’s investment activity.
Who this Affects
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation your investment in the Company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should transmit the content of this Privacy Notice to such individuals or otherwise advise them of its content.
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How the Company May Use Your Personal Data
The company, as the data controller, may collect, store and use personal data for lawful purposes, including, in particular:
(i) where this is necessary for the performance of our rights and obligations under any purchase agreements;
(ii) where this is necessary for compliance with a legal and regulatory obligation to which we are subject (such as compliance with anti-money laundering and FATCA/CRS requirements); and/or
(iii) where this is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests and such interests are not overridden by your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms.
Should we wish to use personal data for other specific purposes (including, if applicable, any purpose that requires your consent), we will contact you.
Why We May Transfer Your Personal Data
In certain circumstances, we may be legally obliged to share personal data and other information with respect to your shareholding with the relevant regulatory authorities such as the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority or the Tax Information Authority. They, in turn, may exchange this information with foreign authorities, including tax authorities.
We anticipate disclosing personal data to persons who provide services to us and their respective affiliates (which may include certain entities located outside the United States, the Cayman Islands or the European Economic Area), who will process your personal data on our behalf.
The Data Protection Measures We Take
You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils our obligation in this respect), (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data, (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing, (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected, (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data, (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial), (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer, or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data, and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data, (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands, and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.
If you do not wish to provide us with requested personal data or subsequently withdraw your consent, you may not be able to invest in the Company or remain invested in the Company as it will affect the Company’s ability to manage your investment.
If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with our responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by email at info@ombudsman.ky or by accessing their website here: ombudsman.ky.
Any transfer of personal data by us or our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA.
We and our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates shall apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of personal data, and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.
We shall notify you of any personal data breach that is reasonably likely to result in a risk to your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms or those data subjects to whom the relevant personal data relates.
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Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that our board of directors will be classified into three classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings. Our authorized but unissued Class A ordinary shares and preference shares are available for future issuances without shareholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved Class A ordinary shares and preference shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Securities Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after this offering, we will have 15,041,667 (or 17,274,667 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) ordinary shares outstanding. Of these shares, the Class A ordinary shares sold in this offering (11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 12,650,000 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 Class A ordinary shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the outstanding founder shares (3,666,667 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 4,216,667 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and all of the outstanding private placement units (375,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 408,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares 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 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 Class A ordinary shares then outstanding, which will equal 150,416 shares immediately after this offering (or 172,746 if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option); or
• the average weekly reported trading volume of the Class A ordinary shares 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;
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• 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 Current Reports on Form 8-K; 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 shareholders will be able to sell their founder shares and private placement units, 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) private placement units which will be issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such private placement units and (iii) private placement units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such private placement 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 $1,500,000 of working capital loans are converted into private placement units, we will be obligated to register up to 5,053,667 Class A ordinary shares and 279,000 warrants. The number of Class A ordinary shares includes (i) 4,216,667 Class A ordinary shares to be issued upon conversion of the founder shares, (ii) 408,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the private placement units, (iii) 204,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the private placement warrants, (iv) 150,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying working capital units and (v) 75,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the working capital warrants underlying the working capital units. The number of warrants includes 204,000 private placement warrants and 75,000 warrants issued as part of the units upon conversion of working capital loans.
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.
Listing of Securities
We plan to apply for listing our units on Nasdaq under the symbol “CHECU” commencing on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “CHEC” and “CHECW,” respectively.
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TAXATION
The following summary of certain Cayman Islands and United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in our units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant, which we refer to collectively as our securities, is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our Class A ordinary shares and warrants, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.
Prospective investors should consult their advisors on the possible tax consequences of investing in our securities under the laws of their country of citizenship, residence or domicile.
Cayman Islands Tax Considerations
The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the securities of the Company. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.
Under Existing Cayman Islands Laws
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains, or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands on the issue of shares by, or any transfers of shares of, Cayman Islands companies (except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands). There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our securities will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the securities nor will gains derived from the disposal of the securities be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporate tax. The Cayman Islands currently has no income, corporate or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of the warrants. An instrument of transfer in respect of a warrant is stampable if executed in or brought into the Cayman Islands.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our Class A ordinary shares or on an instrument of transfer in respect of such shares.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
General
The following discussion summarizes material United States federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units (each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant) that are purchased in this offering, which we refer to collectively as our securities, by U.S. Holders (as defined below) and non-U.S. Holders (as defined below). Because the components of a unit are generally separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for United States federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant components of the unit. As a result, the discussion below with respect to actual holders of Class A ordinary shares and warrants also should apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying Class A ordinary shares and warrants that constitute the units).
This discussion does not address the United States federal income tax consequences to our founders, co-sponsors, officers or directors, or to holders of private placement units. This discussion is limited to material United States federal income tax considerations to beneficial owners of our securities who are initial purchasers of a unit pursuant to this offering and who hold the unit and each component of the unit as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion assumes that the Class A ordinary
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shares and warrants will trade separately and that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our Class A ordinary shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars.
This discussion is a summary only and does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of a unit by a prospective investor in light of its particular circumstances, including but not limited to, the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on net investment income and the different consequences that may apply to investors that are subject to special rules under U.S. federal income tax laws, including but not limited to:
• banks, financial institutions or financial services entities;
• broker-dealers;
• taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market tax accounting rules;
• tax-exempt entities;
• governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
• insurance companies;
• regulated investment companies;
• real estate investment trusts or real estate mortgage investment conduits;
• expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;
• persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more (by vote or 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;
• persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedge, wash sale, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction;
• persons that are subject to the “applicable financial statement” accounting rules under Section 451 of the Code;
• U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
• controlled foreign corporations;
• passive foreign investment companies; and
• partnerships (or entities or arrangements classified as partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and any beneficial owners of such partnerships (or such entities or arrangements or other pass-through entities).
Moreover, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof, and such provisions may be repealed, revoked, modified or be subject to differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis, which may result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any aspect of United States federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or estate tax laws, or state, local or non-United States tax laws.
We have not sought, and do not expect to seek, a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as to any United States federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
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If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner, member or other beneficial owner in such partnership or other pass-through entity generally will depend on the status of the partner, member or other beneficial owner and the activities of the partnership or other pass-through entity. If you are a partner, member or other beneficial owner of a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes) holding any of our securities, you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN MATERIAL UNITED STATES 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 UNITED STATES FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-UNITED STATES TAX LAWS.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or any instrument similar to a unit for United States federal income tax purposes, and therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one warrant, and the Company intends to treat the acquisition of a unit in such manner. By purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for United States federal income tax purposes. For United States federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one Class A ordinary share and the one-half of one warrant 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 its tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each Class A ordinary share and the one-half of one warrant should be the shareholder’s initial tax basis in such share and such fraction of a warrant. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the Class A ordinary share and one-half of one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the Class A ordinary share and one-half of one warrant based on their respective 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 the Class A ordinary share and the one-half of one warrant constituting a unit and the combination of fractions of warrants into a single warrant is not expected to be a taxable event for United States federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of the units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants 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 tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including any alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units described above will be respected for United States 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, Class A ordinary shares or warrants who or that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:
• an individual who is a citizen or resident (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of the United States;
• a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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• an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or
• a trust, if (i) 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 (as defined in the Code) have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
Taxation of Distributions
Subject to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income as dividends in the year actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder the amount of any distribution of cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our shares or rights to acquire our shares) paid on our Class A ordinary shares to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles). Distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in such U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares (but not below zero) and, to the extent in excess of such basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such Class A ordinary shares (the treatment of which is described under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants” below).
Dividends paid by us will be taxable to a corporate U.S. Holder at regular rates and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to domestic corporations in respect of dividends received from domestic corporations. With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, dividends generally will be taxed at the preferential applicable long-term capital gains rate (see “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants” below) only if our Class A ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, we are not a PFIC at the time the dividend was paid and were not treated as a PFIC with respect to the U.S. Holder in the preceding taxable year, and certain other requirements, such as a holding period requirement, are met. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of such preferential rate for any dividends paid with respect to our Class A ordinary shares.
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, the amount of the dividend will be treated as foreign-source dividend income to U.S. Holders and will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the U.S. Holder’s receipt of the dividend.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A ordinary shares or warrants (including a redemption of our Class A ordinary shares (to the extent described below) or warrants that is treated as a taxable disposition, including pursuant to our dissolution and liquidation if we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period). Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such Class A ordinary shares or warrants exceeds one year. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder may be taxed at preferential rates of taxation. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose.
If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or other taxable disposition would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
The amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other taxable disposition generally will be 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 Class A ordinary shares or warrants are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A ordinary shares or warrants based upon the then relative fair market values of the Class A ordinary shares and the warrants constituting the units)
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and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A ordinary shares or warrants so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A ordinary shares or warrants generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a Class A ordinary share or one-half of one warrant, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) reduced, in the case of a Class A ordinary share, by any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. See “Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant” below for a discussion regarding a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Class A ordinary share acquired pursuant to the exercise of a warrant.
Redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, in the event that a U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Ordinary Shares” or if we purchase a U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares in an open market transaction (such open market purchase of Class A ordinary shares by us referred to as a “redemption” for the remainder of this discussion), the treatment of the transaction for United States federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Class A ordinary shares under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as described under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “— Taxation of Distributions.” Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of our shares treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any shares constructively owned by the U.S. Holder described in the following paragraph, including as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after such redemption. A redemption of Class A ordinary shares generally will be treated as a sale of the Class A ordinary shares (rather than as a corporate distribution) if such redemption (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 our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also our shares that are constructively owned by such holder. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to shares owned directly, shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any shares the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which generally would include Class A ordinary shares which could be acquired by such U.S. Holder pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of Class A ordinary shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our initial business combination the Class A ordinary shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other shares of ours (including any shares constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning our warrants). The redemption of the Class A ordinary shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if such redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption 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 shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption of any Class A ordinary shares.
If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption of any Class A ordinary shares will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “— Taxation of Distributions” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed Class A ordinary shares will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares, or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other shares constructively owned by it.
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U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including any special reporting requirements.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below and except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of a Class A ordinary share on the exercise of a warrant for cash. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a Class A ordinary share received upon exercise of the warrant generally will equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the warrant (that is, the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and the exercise price. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary share received will commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the lapsed warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current law. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a cashless exercise may not be taxable, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for United States federal income tax purposes. In either situation, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Class A ordinary shares received generally should equal the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise was not a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary shares received would be treated as commencing on the date of exercise of the warrants or the day following the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Class A ordinary shares received would include the holding period of the warrants.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered a number of warrants equal to the number of Class A ordinary shares having a value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. In such case, subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, the U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss with respect to the warrants deemed surrendered in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Class A ordinary shares that would have been received in a regular exercise of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the Class A ordinary shares received would equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the warrants deemed exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the warrants, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and the aggregate exercise price of such warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary shares would commence on the date of exercise of the warrants or the day following the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrants.
Due to the absence of authority on the United States federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, including when a U.S. Holder’s holding period would commence with respect to the Class A ordinary share received, there can be no assurance regarding which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.
Subject to the PFIC rules described below, if we redeem warrants for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities-Warrants — Public Shareholders’ Warrants” or if we purchase warrants in an open market transaction, such redemption or purchase generally will be treated as a taxable disposition to the U.S. Holder, taxed as described above under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants.”
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of Class A ordinary shares for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Shareholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which
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has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. Holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases such U.S. Holders’ proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of Class A ordinary shares that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrants), which adjustment may be made as a result of a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of our Class A ordinary shares. Such constructive distribution to a U.S. Holder of warrants would be treated as if such U.S. Holder had received a cash distribution from us generally equal to the fair market value of such increased interest (taxed as described above under “— Taxation of Distributions”).
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be classified as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year (ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year), including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of assets giving rise to passive income.
Because we are a blank check company, with no current active business, we believe that it is likely that we will meet the PFIC asset or income test for our current taxable year. However, pursuant to a startup exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income (the “startup year”), if (1) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (2) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the startup year; and (3) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the startup exception to us is uncertain and will not be known until after the close of our current taxable year and, perhaps, until after the end of our two taxable years following our startup year. After the acquisition of a company or assets in a business combination, we may still meet one of the PFIC tests depending on the timing of the acquisition and the amount of our passive income and assets as well as the passive income and assets of the acquired business. If the company that we acquire in a business combination is a PFIC, then we will likely not qualify for the startup exception and will be a PFIC for our current taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year (and, in the case of the startup exception to our current taxable year, perhaps until after the end of our two taxable years following our startup year). Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. In addition, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status for any taxable years.
Although our PFIC status is determined annually, an initial determination that our company is a PFIC generally will apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held Class A ordinary shares or warrants while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of our Class A ordinary shares or warrants and, in the case of our Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder did not make either a timely mark-to-market election or a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) Class A ordinary shares, as described below, such U.S. Holder generally will be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its Class A ordinary shares or warrants (which may include gain realized by reason of transfers of Class A ordinary shares or warrants that would otherwise qualify as nonrecognition transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and (ii) any “excess distribution” made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any gain and any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of the Class A ordinary shares during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, the portion of such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary shares that preceded the taxable year of the distribution).
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Under these rules:
• the U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A ordinary shares or warrants;
• the amount allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution, or to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income;
• the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder without regard to the U.S. Holder’s other items of income and loss for such year; and
• an additional amount equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder with respect to the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder.
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may be able to avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect of our Class A ordinary shares by making a timely and valid QEF election (if eligible to do so) to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends. A U.S. Holder generally may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.
If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to its Class A ordinary shares in a year after our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) Class A ordinary shares, then notwithstanding such QEF election, the rules relating to “excess distributions” discussed above, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such U.S. Holder’s Class A ordinary shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. Under the purging election, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold such shares at their fair market value and any gain recognized on such deemed sale will be treated as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder will have additional basis (to the extent of any gain recognized on the deemed sale) and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, a new holding period in the Class A ordinary shares.
It is not entirely clear how various aspects of the PFIC rules apply to the warrants. However, a U.S. Holder may not make a QEF election with respect to its warrants to acquire our Class A ordinary shares. As a result, if a U.S. Holder sells or otherwise disposes of such warrants (other than upon exercise of such warrants) and we were a PFIC at any time during the U.S. Holder’s holding period of such warrants, any gain recognized generally will be treated as an excess distribution, taxed as described above. If a U.S. Holder that exercises such warrants properly makes and maintains a QEF election with respect to the newly acquired Class A ordinary shares (or has previously made a QEF election with respect to our Class A ordinary shares), the QEF election will apply (or to the extent the U.S. Holder has previously made a QEF election with respect to our Class A ordinary shares, continue to apply) to the newly acquired Class A ordinary shares. Notwithstanding such QEF election, the rules relating to “excess distributions” discussed above, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such newly acquired Class A ordinary shares (which, while not entirely clear, generally will be deemed to have a holding period for purposes of the PFIC rules that includes the period the U.S. Holder held the warrants), unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the application of the rules governing purging elections to their particular circumstances.
In addition, if we were a PFIC or, with respect to a particular U.S. Holder, were treated as a PFIC for the taxable year in which we paid a dividend or for the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rate discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders would not apply.
The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed United States federal
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income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances.
In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we may endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election, but we are under no requirement to do so and there is no assurance that we will timely provide such required information. There is also no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.
If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our Class A ordinary shares, and the excess distribution rules discussed above do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of such Class A ordinary shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no additional interest charge will be imposed under the PFIC rules. As discussed above, if we are a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder of our Class A ordinary shares that has made a QEF election will be currently taxed on its pro rata share of our earnings and profits, whether or not distributed for such year. A subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable when distributed to such U.S. Holder. The tax basis of a U.S. Holder’s shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. In addition, if we are not a PFIC for any taxable year, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to our Class A ordinary shares for such a taxable year.
Alternatively, if a U.S. Holder, at the close of its taxable year, owns shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable stock, the U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such shares for such taxable year. If the U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) Class A ordinary shares in us and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, such U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect of its Class A ordinary shares. Instead, in general, the U.S. Holder will include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its Class A ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year over its adjusted basis in its Class A ordinary shares. These amounts of ordinary income would not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. The U.S. Holder also will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in its Class A ordinary shares over the fair market value of its Class A ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holder’s basis in its Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of its Class A ordinary shares will be treated as ordinary income. Note that a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to warrants. The mark-to-market election is available only for stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC, including Nasdaq (on which we intend to list the Class A ordinary shares), or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. If made, a mark-to-market election would be effective for the taxable year for which the election was made and for all subsequent taxable years unless the Class A ordinary shares ceased to qualify as “marketable stock” for purposes of the PFIC rules or the IRS consented to the revocation of the election. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our Class A ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. There can be no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we would be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide any QEF information. A mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.
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A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder, may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or mark-to-market election is made) and such other information as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department. Failure to do so, if required, will extend the statute of limitations until such required information is furnished to the IRS.
The rules dealing with PFICs and with the QEF, purging, and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above. Furthermore, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge our application of the PFIC rules. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares and warrants should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules to our Class A ordinary shares and warrants under their particular circumstances.
Tax Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders may be required to file an IRS Form 926 (Return by a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) to report a transfer of property (including cash) to us. Substantial penalties may be imposed on a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting requirement, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of United States federal income taxes will be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Furthermore, certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities will be required to report information with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets), subject to certain exceptions. Specified foreign financial assets generally include any financial account maintained with a non-U.S. financial institution and should also include our units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants if they are not held in an account maintained with a U.S. financial institution.
Persons who are required to report specified foreign financial assets and fail to do so may be subject to substantial penalties, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of United States federal income taxes may be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Potential investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the foreign financial asset and other reporting obligations and their application to an investment in our units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants (other than a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership or other flow-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is for United States federal income tax purposes:
• a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates);
• a foreign corporation; or
• an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder;
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition of our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities.
Dividends (including, as described under “— U.S. Holders — Possible Constructive Distributions” above, constructive distributions treated as dividends) paid by us or deemed paid to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States). In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other disposition of our Class A ordinary shares or warrants unless such gain is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States).
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Dividends (including, as described under “— U.S. Holders — Possible Constructive Distributions” above, constructive distributions treated as dividends) and gains that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States) generally will be subject to United States federal income tax at the same regular United States federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate. However, the PFIC rules discussed above will not apply to a Non-U.S. Holder.
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of a Non-U.S. Holder’s exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant held by a Non-U.S. Holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of the exercise or lapse of a warrant by a U.S. Holder, as described under “— U.S. Holders — Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant,” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described in the preceding paragraphs above for a Non-U.S. Holder’s gain on the sale or other disposition of our Class A ordinary shares and warrants (i.e., in general, no U.S. federal income taxation unless such income is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States).
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of our Class A ordinary shares, warrants and units may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible United States backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will eliminate the requirement for backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a holder’s United States federal income tax liability, and a holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
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UNDERWRITING
BTIG is acting as sole bookrunner and representative of the underwriters of the offering. CBC Securities is acting as a co-manager for this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name. The underwriters may offer and sell units to the public through one or more of their respective affiliates or other registered broker-dealers or selling agents.
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Underwriters |
Number of |
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BTIG, LLC |
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CBC Securities, Inc. |
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Total |
11,000,000 |
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the units included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the units (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the units.
We have been advised by the underwriters that they proposed to offer the units to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. The underwriters may allow dealers concessions not in excess of $ per unit, and the dealers may re-allow a concession not in excess of $ per unit to other dealers. After the initial offering of the units, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The representative has advised us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 1,650,000 additional units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional units approximately proportionate to that underwriters’ initial purchase commitment. Any units issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other units that are the subject of this offering.
CBC Securities, an affiliate of the Cayman Sponsor and Delaware Sponsor, is acting as an underwriter in connection with this offering. As a result, CBC Securities is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. CBC Securities will not confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder. For structuring services provided by CBC Securities in connection with CBC’s role as co-manager in this offering, we have agreed to pay CBC Securities a $50,000 fee. CBC Securities will also receive an estimated $2,000 in underwriting commissions. In addition, we may engage CBC Securities to provide financial advisory services in connection with our initial business combination. If CBC Securities provides services to us after this offering, we may pay CBC Securities fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time. Any fees we may pay CBC Securities for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may be paid in a form other than cash. Houston Li, our Chief Operating Officer, is an associate at CBC Securities.
Purchases of Private Placement Units
BTIG has committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 private placement units (or 126,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 (or $1,265,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in the private placement that will occur simultaneously with the completion of this offering. The terms of the private placement units are identical to the units being sold in this offering, except that the private placement units are subject to certain limited exceptions as described elsewhere in this prospectus. The private placement units and underlying ordinary shares and warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to the lock-up restrictions imposed by FINRA Rule 5110(e), pursuant to which these securities will not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days beginning on the
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commencement of sales of this offering except as permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2) including to any member participating in the offering and the officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof. In addition, for as long as the placement warrants underlying the placement units are held by BTIG and/or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales of this offering. We have granted BTIG and its designees certain registration rights relating to these securities. BTIG and its designees may not exercise their demand and “piggy back” registration rights beyond five and seven years, respectively, after the commencement of sales of this offering and may not exercise their demand rights on more than one occasion.
Lock-up
We, our co-sponsors and our officers and directors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of BTIG, as representative of the underwriters, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, warrants, shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares, subject to certain exceptions. The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.
Our co-sponsors, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private placement units pursuant to the letter agreements described herein. Our co-sponsors, founder, officers and directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion thereof until the earlier of: (i) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; or (ii) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) when the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, share dividends, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing any time after the completion of our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units”). Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our co-sponsors with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up. The private placement units (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private placement units) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Shareholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units”).
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative.
The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in the equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
We intend to apply for listing our units on Nasdaq under the symbol “CHECU” We expect that our Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be listed under the symbols “CHEC” and “CHECW,” respectively, once the Class A ordinary shares and warrants begin separate trading. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq.
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The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
|
Paid by the Company |
||||||
|
No Exercise |
Full Exercise |
|||||
|
Per Unit(1) |
$ |
0.60 |
$ |
0.60 |
||
|
Total(1) |
$ |
6,600,000 |
$ |
7,590,000 |
||
____________
(1) $0.20 per unit sold in the base offering, or $2,200,000 in the aggregate (or up to $2,530,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full), is payable upon the closing of this offering. Also includes up to $0.40 per unit sold in this offering, or $4,400,000 in the aggregate (or up to $5,060,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full) payable to the underwriters in this offering, for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States and released to the underwriters for their own account only upon the completion of an initial business combination, but such $0.40 per unit shall be based in part on amounts remaining in the trust account following all properly submitted shareholder redemptions in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window and subsequently liquidate, the underwriters have agreed that (i) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account, and (ii) that the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, together with any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the company to pay the company’s taxes, to the public shareholders.
Stabilization and Other Transactions
The underwriters pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act may engage in short sale transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids in connection with this offering. These activities may have the effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the units at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Establishing short sales positions may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales.
“Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units in this offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising the overallotment option or purchasing our securities in the open market or from market participants. In determining the source of units to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the overallotment option.
“Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the option to purchase additional units. The underwriters must close out any 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 this offering.
A stabilizing bid is a bid for the purchase of securities on behalf of the underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. A syndicate covering transaction is the bid for or the purchase of securities on behalf of the underwriters to reduce a short position incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering. Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our securities. As a result, the price of our securities may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the underwriters to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing to a syndicate member in connection with the offering if the securities originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction and therefore have not been effectively placed by such syndicate member.
Neither we, nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our securities. The underwriters are not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
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We estimate that the total expenses of this offering payable by us will be $630,000, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for its expenses related to this offering up to an aggregate accountable expense allowance of $52,000, including, but not limited to expenses of the underwriters’ legal counsel, the cost of investigations and background checks of our officers and directors (not to exceed $4,000 per person (in the case of U.S. persons) and $5,000 per person (in the case of non-U.S. persons)), and road show and other offering related expenses, as defined by FINRA. In addition, we have granted BTIG a right of first refusal to act as the capital markets advisor, placement agent, or book-running lead manager, as the case may be, in connection with any private placement or public offering of equity, equity-linked or debt securities of the Company until the later of November 5, 2026 or the closing of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three (3) years from the date of this prospectus.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so although we may decide to do so at a later date. The underwriting agreement does not obligate the underwriters to perform any services in connection with our initial business combination or to receive their deferred commissions, which will be fully earned by the underwriters upon the payment of the purchase price for the units purchased by the underwriters on the closing of this offering and will be released to the underwriters only on and concurrently with completion of an initial business combination. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination as applicable. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Selling Restrictions
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NOTICE TO INVESTORS
Canada
This prospectus constitutes an “exempt offering document” as defined in and for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities laws. No prospectus has been filed with any securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this prospectus or on the merits of the securities and any representation to the contrary is an offence.
Canadian investors are advised that this prospectus has been prepared in reliance on section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”). Pursuant to section 3A.3 of NI 33-105, this prospectus is exempt from the requirement that the issuer and the underwriter(s) provide investors with certain conflicts of interest disclosure pertaining to “connected issuer” and/or “related issuer” relationships that may exist between the issuer and the underwriter(s) as would otherwise be required pursuant to subsection 2.1(1) of NI 33-105.
Resale Restrictions
The offer and sale of the securities in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the issuer prepares and files a prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws. Any resale of the securities acquired by a Canadian investor in this offering must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements, pursuant to a statutory exemption from this prospectus requirements, in a transaction exempt from this prospectus requirements or otherwise under a discretionary exemption from this prospectus requirements granted by the applicable local Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the securities outside of Canada.
Representations of Purchasers
Each Canadian investor who purchases the securities will be deemed to have represented to the issuer and the underwriter(s) that the investor (i) is purchasing the securities as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, for investment only and not with a view to resale or redistribution; (ii) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”) or, in Ontario, as such term is defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario); and (iii) is a “permitted client” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained in this prospectus does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a Canadian investor when deciding to purchase the securities and, in particular, does not address any Canadian tax considerations. No representation or warranty is hereby made as to the tax consequences to a resident, or deemed resident, of Canada of an investment in the securities or with respect to the eligibility of the securities for investment by such investor under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.
Rights of Action for Damages or Rescission
Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian jurisdictions provides certain purchasers of securities pursuant to an offering memorandum (such as this prospectus), including where the distribution involves an “eligible foreign security” as such term is defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 45-501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and in Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions, as applicable, with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where the offering memorandum, or other offering document that constitutes an offering memorandum, and any amendment thereto, contains a “misrepresentation” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by
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the purchaser within the time limits prescribed under, and are subject to limitations and defenses under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. In addition, these remedies are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy available at law to the investor.
Language of Documents
Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur Canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.
Australia
This document does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Australia’s Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”) of Australia. This document has not been lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and is only directed to the categories of exempt persons set out below. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:
You confirm and warrant that you are either:
• a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act;
• a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountant’s certificate to the company which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made; or
• a “professional investor” within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act.
To the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor or professional investor under the Corporations Act any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance.
You warrant and agree that you will not offer any of the shares issued to you pursuant to this document for resale in Australia within 12 months of those securities being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act.
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each a “Member State”), no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offer described herein in that Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities 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 the securities may be offered to the public in that Member State at any time:
(i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation;
(ii) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
(iii) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of securities shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
Each person in a Member State who acquires any securities in the offer or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.
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In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in a Member State to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final placement of securities contemplated in this document.
The issuer and the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities 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 securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase, or subscribe for, any securities and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
In Member States, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in any Member State by persons who are not Qualified Investors. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in any Member State only to Qualified Investors and will be engaged in only with such persons.
Hong Kong
No securities have been, may be or will be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent; or to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder; or in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding UP and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the “C(WUMP)O”), or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O. No document, invitation or advertisement relating to the securities has been issued or may be issued or will 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 of Hong Kong (except if permitted under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.
This document has not been and will not be registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. Accordingly, this document may not be issued, circulated or distributed in Hong Kong, and the securities may not be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Each person acquiring the securities will be required, and is deemed by the acquisition of the securities, to confirm that he is aware of the restriction on offers of the securities described in this document and the relevant offering documents and that he is not acquiring, and has not been offered any securities in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions.
Japan
The offering has not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948 of Japan, as amended) (the “FIEA”), and the Initial Purchaser will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means, unless otherwise provided herein, any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
223
Singapore
This document has not been and will not be lodged or registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this document and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or the invitation for subscription or purchase of the securities may not be issued, circulated or distributed, nor may the securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person as defined under Section 275(2) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA and where (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of any other applicable provision of the SFA. In the event that you are not an investor falling within any of the categories set out above, please return this document immediately. You may not forward or circulate this document to any other person in Singapore.
No offer is made to you with a view to the securities being subsequently offered for sale to any other party. There are on-sale restrictions that may be applicable to investors who acquire securities. As such, investors are advised to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the SFA relating to resale restrictions and comply accordingly.
Where the securities 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 under Section 4A of the SFA) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
• a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,
securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities under Section 275 of the SFA except:
• to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;
• where no consideration is given for the transfer;
• where the transfer is by operation of law;
• as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or
• as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.
Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the issuer or the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, or FINMA, and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.
224
Israel
This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Securities Law, and has not been filed with or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. In the State of Israel, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer of the shares is directed only at, investors listed in the first addendum, or the Addendum, to the Israeli Securities Law, consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals”, each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who are investors listed in the Addendum). Qualified investors will be required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.
United Kingdom
In relation to the United Kingdom, no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offer described herein to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, except that the securities may be offered to the public in the United Kingdom at any time:
(i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
(ii) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
(iii) in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the “FSMA”),
provided that no such offer of the securities shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
Each person in the United Kingdom who acquires any securities in the offer or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in the United Kingdom to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final placement of securities contemplated in this document.
The issuer and the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also: (i) persons who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2) of the
225
Order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in the United Kingdom only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with such persons.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in connection with the issue or sale of the securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. All applicable provisions of the FSMA and the Order must be complied with in respect of anything done by any person in relation to the securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Cayman Islands
This document does not constitute a public offer of, or an invitation to the public to purchase, units, warrants or Class A ordinary shares in the company, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the Cayman Islands. Units, warrants and Class A ordinary shares have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the Cayman Islands.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Paul Hastings LLP is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and as such, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to the units and the warrants. Ogier will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to the ordinary shares and matters of Cayman Islands law. Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as counsel to the underwriters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Chenghe Acquisition III Co. at December 31, 2024, and for the period from June 4, 2024 (inception) through December 31, 2024, included in this prospectus have been audited by Audit Alliance LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given upon such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Page |
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Financial Statements of Chenghe Acquisition III Co.: |
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 3487) |
F-2 |
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Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2024 |
F-3 |
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F-4 |
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F-5 |
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F-6 |
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F-7 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024, and the related statements of operations, shareholder’s deficit, and cash flows for the period from June 4, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from June 4, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
Explanatory Paragraph — 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, its business plan is dependent on the completion of a financing and the Company’s working capital as of December 31, 2024 is not sufficient to complete its planned activities. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plan in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1 and 3. 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 audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 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 audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Audit Alliance LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.
Singapore
January 31, 2025
F-2
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
BALANCE SHEETS
|
March 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Prepaid expense – current asset |
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
||
|
Deferred offering costs |
|
330,711 |
|
|
152,137 |
|
||
|
Total Assets |
$ |
355,711 |
|
$ |
177,137 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Liabilities and Shareholder’s Deficit |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Accrued expenses |
$ |
13,797 |
|
$ |
22,172 |
|
||
|
Accrued offering costs |
|
330,711 |
|
|
152,137 |
|
||
|
Promissory note – related party |
|
38,427 |
|
|
10,420 |
|
||
|
Total current liabilities |
|
382,935 |
|
|
184,729 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Shareholder’s Deficit: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 4,216,667 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024(1) |
|
422 |
|
|
422 |
|
||
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
24,578 |
|
|
24,578 |
|
||
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(52,224 |
) |
|
(32,592 |
) |
||
|
Total shareholder’s deficit |
|
(27,224 |
) |
|
(7,592 |
) |
||
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholder’s Deficit |
$ |
355,711 |
|
$ |
177,137 |
|
||
____________
(1) Includes up to 550,000 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 Founder Shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 Founder Shares to Delaware Sponsor, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 Founder Shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 Founder Shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). All shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated (see Note 5).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-3
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
For the |
For the Period |
|||||||
|
Formation and operating costs |
$ |
19,632 |
|
$ |
32,592 |
|
||
|
Net loss |
$ |
(19,632 |
) |
$ |
(32,592 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1) |
|
3,666,667 |
|
|
3,666,667 |
|
||
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
||
____________
(1) Excludes up to 550,000 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 Founder Shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 Founder Shares to Delaware Sponsor, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 Founder Shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 Founder Shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). All shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated (see Note 5).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-4
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER’S DEFICIT
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
|
Class B |
Additional |
Accumulated |
Shareholder’s |
|||||||||||||
|
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||
|
Balance as of January 1, 2025 |
4,216,667 |
$ |
422 |
$ |
24,578 |
$ |
(32,592 |
) |
$ |
(7,592 |
) |
|||||
|
Net loss |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(19,632 |
) |
|
(19,632 |
) |
|||||
|
Balance as of March 31, 2025 (Unaudited) |
4,216,667 |
$ |
422 |
$ |
24,578 |
$ |
(52,224 |
) |
$ |
(27,224 |
) |
|||||
For the Period from June 4, 2024 (Inception) through December 31, 2024
|
Class B |
Additional |
Accumulated |
Shareholder’s |
|||||||||||||
|
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||
|
Balance as of June 4, 2024 (Inception) |
— |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|||||
|
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares(1) |
4,216,667 |
|
422 |
|
24,578 |
|
— |
|
|
25,000 |
|
|||||
|
Net loss |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(32,592 |
) |
|
(32,592 |
) |
|||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2024 |
4,216,667 |
$ |
422 |
$ |
24,578 |
$ |
(32,592 |
) |
$ |
(7,592 |
) |
|||||
____________
(1) Includes up to 550,000 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 Founder Shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 Founder Shares to Delaware Sponsor, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 Founder Shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 Founder Shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). All shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated (see Note 5).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-5
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 4, 2024 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2024
|
For the |
For the |
|||||||
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Net loss |
$ |
(19,632 |
) |
$ |
(32,592 |
) |
||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Operating costs paid through promissory note – related party |
|
28,007 |
|
|
10,420 |
|
||
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Accrued expenses |
|
(8,375 |
) |
|
22,172 |
|
||
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Net change in cash |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Cash, beginning of the period |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
Cash, end of the period |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Prepaid expense paid by Sponsor for issuance of Class B ordinary shares |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
||
|
Deferred offering costs included in the accrued offering costs |
$ |
178,574 |
|
$ |
152,137 |
|
||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-6
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations
Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) is blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on June 4, 2024. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (the “Business Combination”). The Company has not selected any potential Business Combination target and the Company has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential Business Combination target.
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from June 4, 2024 (inception) through March 31, 2025 relates to the Company’s formation and the Proposed Public Offering (as defined 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 non-operating income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering (as defined below). The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s co-sponsors are Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited company (the “Cayman Sponsor”, and the sole manager of the Delaware Sponsor) and Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Delaware Sponsor”). The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a Proposed Public Offering of 11,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Units”) (or 12,650,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3 (the “Proposed Public Offering”), and the sale of 375,000 units (the “Private Placement Units”) (or 408,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $3,750,000 (or $4,080,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) to the co-sponsors and the underwriters, at a price of $10.00 per Units in a private placement (as discussed in Note 4) that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”). Each Private Placement Unit will be identical to the units sold in the Proposed Public offering, except as described in Note 4. The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a Business Combination (less any taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to the Company for taxes).
The initial Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses or assets having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the Trust Account (defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes paid or payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such Business Combination. However, 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 Public Offering, management has agreed that an aggregate of $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering will be held in a Trust Account (“Trust Account”) and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 180 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. Except with respect to permitted withdrawals, the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Units will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within the completion window, subject to applicable law, and (iii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the completion window or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the Company’s public shareholders.
F-7
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations (cont.)
The Company will provide the public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the initial Business Combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) without a shareholder vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its 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 the Company to seek shareholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. The Company will provide the public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the initial Business Combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account 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 permitted withdrawals) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. The amount in the Trust Account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share.
The Company will account for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (ASC 480). Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) will be classified as a liability instrument and will be measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) will be classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares will be classified as stockholders’ equity. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company will classify the Class A ordinary shares subject to redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. Given that the 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (or 12,650,000 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold as part of the units in the offering will be issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., warrants), the initial carrying value of Class A ordinary shares classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20. If it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable, the Company has the option to either (i) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument or (ii) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The Company has elected to recognize the changes immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period.
The Company will have 18 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering (or such other time period in which the Company must consummate an initial Business Combination pursuant to an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) (the “Completion window”) to complete the initial Business Combination. If the Company has not completed the initial Business Combination within the Completion window, the Company will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net permitted withdrawals 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 shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and its board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the completion window.
The initial shareholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the completion window. However, if the Company’s initial shareholders or management team acquire public shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such public shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination within the allotted completion window.
F-8
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations (cont.)
The underwriters have agreed to waive all rights to the deferred underwriting commission held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the completion window and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Company’s public shares.
In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the co-sponsors have agreed that they will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less permitted withdrawals, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, the Company has not asked the co-sponsors to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether the co-sponsors have sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and the Company believes that the co-sponsors’ only assets are securities of the Company. The co-sponsors may not be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for the initial Business Combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, the Company may not be able to complete its initial Business Combination, and shareholders would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of their public shares. None of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Going Concern Consideration
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had no cash, and a working capital deficit of $357,935 (excluding deferred offering costs) and incurred a net loss of $19,632. Additionally, as of March 31, 2025, the Company had a shareholder’s deficit of $27,224. The Cayman Sponsor has agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering. The loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and shall be payable on the earlier of: (i) December 31, 2026 or (ii) the date on which the Company consummates an initial public offering of its securities. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had borrowed $38,427 under the promissory note.
The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful within the Completion window. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Risks and Uncertainties
In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Further, the impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy are not determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements and the specific impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is also not determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements. The condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
F-9
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
The accompanying unaudited financial statements as of March 31, 2025 has been prepared in accordance with US GAAP and the rules of the SEC. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of a normal accruals), considered for a fair presentation have been included. The interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2025 or for any future periods.
Emerging Growth Company Status
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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s condensed 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.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US 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 expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ 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 or cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024.
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal and other professional expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering. The Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1, SEC Staff Accounting bulletin Topic 5A — “Expenses of Offering”, and SEC Staff Accounting bulletin Topic 5T — “Accounting for Expenses or Liabilities Paid by Principal Stockholder(s)”. Offering costs directly
F-10
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
attributable to the issuance of an equity contract to be classified in equity will be recorded as a reduction of equity. Offering costs for equity contracts that are classified as assets and liabilities will be expensed immediately. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to equity. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, the Company had deferred offering costs of $330,711 and $152,137, respectively.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to its short-term nature.
The Company applies ASC 820, which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework. ASC 820 defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the Company’s principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 generally requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions based on market data and the entity’s judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are to be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
|
Level 1 — |
Assets and liabilities with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. Inputs to the fair value measurement are observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
|||
|
Level 2 — |
Inputs to the fair value measurement are determined using prices for recently traded assets and liabilities with similar underlying terms, as well as direct or indirect observable inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. |
|||
|
Level 3 — |
Inputs to the fair value measurement are unobservable inputs, such as estimates, assumptions, and valuation techniques when little or no market data exists for the assets or liabilities. |
Net Loss Per Ordinary Share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 550,000 ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Notes 5). At March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the periods presented.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the condensed financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
F-11
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the condensed 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’s management determined that Cayman Islands is the Company’s major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, there were no unrecognized tax benefits 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’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The Company is considered to be a Cayman Islands exempt company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the period presented.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. The ASU also removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity-linked contracts to qualify for scope exception, and it simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. ASU 2020-06 is effective January 1, 2024 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 since inception.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which requires disclosure of incremental income tax information within the rate reconciliation and expanded disclosures of income taxes paid, among other disclosure requirements. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company’s management does not believe the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have a material impact on its financial statements and disclosures.
The Company’s management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.
Note 3 — Proposed Public Offering
In the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 11,000,000 Units, (or 12,650,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit that the Company is offering has a price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole warrants will trade.
The Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, Private Placement Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in a letter agreement entered into by the Company’s initial shareholders and management team. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (a) in the case of the Founder Shares, until the earlier of: (i) six months after the completion of the initial Business Combination or earlier if, subsequent to the initial Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the
F-12
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3 — Proposed Public Offering (cont.)
initial Business Combination and (ii) the date following the completion of the initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property and (b) in the case of the Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units, and the respective Class A ordinary shares underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination, except to permitted transferees as disclosed in the Proposed Public Offering.
Note 4 — Private Placement
The Company’s Cayman Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 50,000 Private Placement Units (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and Delaware Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 215,000 Private Placement Units (or 231,500 Private Placement Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), for an aggregate of 265,000 Private Placement Units (or 281,500 Private Placement Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to be purchased by the co-sponsors collectively at a price of $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $2,650,000 (or $2,815,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). BTIG, LLC, the representative of the underwriters (“BTIG”) has committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 Private Placement Units (or 126,500 Private Placement Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 (or $1,265,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Each Private Placement Unit will be identical to the units sold in the Proposed Public Offering, except as described below.
The Private Placement Units will be sold in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, including the over-allotment option, as applicable. The Private Placement Units (including the private placement shares, the Private Placement Warrants or private placement shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described in Note 3).
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On December 5, 2024, the Cayman Sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per share, to cover certain of the offering and formation costs in exchange for an aggregate of 4,312,500 Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”) at $0.0001 par value. On June 30 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 Founder Shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 Founder Shares to Delaware Sponsor, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 Founder Shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 Founder Shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). All shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated. Collectively, 550,000 Class B ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
The Company’s initial shareholders, co-sponsors, officers and directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion thereof until the earlier to occur of: (i) six months after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (ii) the date following the completion of the initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the initial Business Combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the Lock-up.
F-13
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions (cont.)
Promissory Note — Related Party
On December 5, 2024, the Company entered into a promissory note with the Cayman Sponsor, pursuant to which, the Cayman Sponsor has agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering. The loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and shall be payable on the earlier of: (i) December 31, 2026 or (ii) the date on which the Company consummates an initial public offering of its securities. These loans will be repaid out of the proceeds not held in the Trust Account. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, the Company had borrowed $38,427 and $10,420, respectively, under the promissory note.
Working Capital Loans
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of the Cayman Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). Up to $1,500,000 of such working capital loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the Private Placement Units. The terms of such working capital loans by the Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates, or the Company’s officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
Administrative Service
Subsequent to the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will pay the Sponsor a total of $15,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of the Company’s management team; upon completion of the initial Business Combination or its liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees.
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, shares being issued to the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering, and units that may be issued on conversion of Working Capital Loans (and in each case holders of their component securities, as applicable) will have registration rights to require the Company to register a sale of any of the Company’s securities held by them pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriter Agreement
The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to an additional 1,650,000 Units to cover over-allotments, if any.
The underwriters will be entitled to underwriting commission of two percent (2.0%) or $2,200,000 in the aggregate (or $2,530,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full) (“Up Front Fee”) paid in cash at the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Additionally, the underwriters will be entitled to four percent (4.0%) of gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, or up to $4,400,000 in the aggregate (or up to $5,060,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full) (the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”) payable in cash upon the closing of a Business Combination, The Deferred Underwriting Commission is conditioned on the completion of an initial Business Combination. The underwriters 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 the Company, including
F-14
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies (cont.)
potential conflicts of interest in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial Business Combination. The underwriters are under no obligation to provide any further services to the Company in order to receive all or any part of the Deferred Underwriting Commissions.
The Private Placement Units purchased by the underwriters are identical to the units being sold in the Proposed Public Offering except as described in Note 4. The Private Placement Units purchased by the underwriters and underlying ordinary shares and warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to lock-up, registration and termination restrictions. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e), the Private Placement Units purchased by the underwriters and/or its permitted designees may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or 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 commencement of sales of the Proposed Public Offering except to any member participating in the Proposed Public Offering and the officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof or as otherwise permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). In addition, for as long as the Private Warrants underlying the Private Placement Units are held by the underwriters and/or its permitted designees, they may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales of the Proposed Public Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the underwriters and/or its permitted designees may not exercise their demand and “piggy back” registration rights beyond five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, from the commencement of sales of the Proposed Public Offering and may not exercise their demand rights on more than one occasion.
Note 7 — Shareholder’s Deficit
Preference Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 1,000,000 preference shares at $0.0001 par value. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares $0.0001 par value. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, there were no shares of Class A ordinary shares issued or outstanding.
Class B Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares at $0.0001 par value. As of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024, the Company issued 4,216,667 Class B ordinary shares to its initial shareholders for $25,000, or approximately $0.006 per share. The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to 550,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full.
The Class B Ordinary Shares will automatically convert (unless otherwise provided in the initial Business Combination agreement) into Class A ordinary shares at the time of the consummation of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, approximately 25% of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion, including the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities or rights exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any Private Placement Units issued to our sponsor, officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans, provided that such conversion of Founder Shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders except as required by law. Unless specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s ordinary
F-15
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7 — Shareholder’s Deficit (cont.)
shares that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by its shareholders. Approval of certain actions will require a special resolution under the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law, which is a resolution passed by a majority of at least two-thirds of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the company and includes a unanimous written resolution, and pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association such actions include amending the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. The Company’s board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being appointed in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the appointment of directors can elect all of the directors. However, only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to appoint directors in any election held prior to the completion of our initial Business Combination, meaning that holders of Class A ordinary shares will not have the right to appoint any directors until after the completion of the initial Business Combination.
Warrants — Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination, provided that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or the Company permits 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. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of Class A ordinary shares. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of the initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation., provided that, the Private Warrants issued to the underwriter will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8).
The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which the Proposed Public Offering forms a part or a new registration statement covering the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and thereafter will use the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following the initial Business Combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the sixtieth (60) business day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if the Company’s Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Redemption of warrants for cash
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption for cash:
• in whole and not in part;
F-16
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7 — Shareholder’s Deficit (cont.)
• upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder; and
• at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, and only if, the closing price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and for certain issuances of Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination as described elsewhere in the Proposed Public Offering) on each of 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending three business days before the Company sends to the notice of redemption to the warrant holders and there is an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period.
If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company for cash, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities, for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Company’s initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Company’s initial shareholders or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of our initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Class A ordinary shares during the 10-trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) of the Class A ordinary shares is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
The Private Placement Warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described in Note 3, to the Company’s officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Units). The Private Placement Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in the Proposed Public Offering.
Note 8 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Based upon this review, other than the below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
On June 30 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares resulting in 4,216,667 Founder Shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 Founder Shares to Delaware Sponsor, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 Founder Shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 Founder Shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). All shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated.
F-17
11,000,000 Units
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sole Book-Running Manager
BTIG
Co-Manager
CBC Securities
Until , 2025 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our ordinary shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. 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.
No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.
, 2025
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) will be as follows:
|
Legal fees and expenses |
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses |
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
SEC/FINRA expenses |
$ |
85,208 |
|
|
Nasdaq listing and filing fees |
$ |
55,000 |
|
|
Printing and engraving expenses |
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
Travel and roadshow expenses |
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
Transfer agent expenses |
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
Structuring services fee |
$ |
50,000 |
|
|
Miscellaneous expenses |
$ |
9,792 |
|
|
Total offering expenses (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) |
$ |
630,000 |
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We expect to purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.
Our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
We will enter into indemnity agreements with each of our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a form of which is to be filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Cayman Islands law 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 filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
II-1
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
On December 5, 2024, Cayman Sponsor acquired an aggregate of 4,312,500 ordinary shares (“founder shares”) in exchange for a total capital contribution of $25,000. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Delaware Sponsor for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 founder shares (up to 308,435 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) and Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 founder shares (up to 241,565 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
In addition, our co-sponsors, Chenghe Investment III Limited and Chenghe Investment III LLC, agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase an aggregate of 265,000 private placement units (or 281,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,650,000 (or $2,815,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. BTIG has committed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,100,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. BTIG also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they will purchase from us up to an aggregate of additional 16,500 private placement units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The private placement units will be purchased in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously this offering. The issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Exhibits. The list of exhibits immediately preceding the signature page of this registration statement is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Financial Statements. See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC 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.
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(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(4) For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser.
i. Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
ii. Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
iii. The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
iv. Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
|
Exhibit No. |
Description |
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1.1** |
||
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3.1*** |
||
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3.2** |
||
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4.1** |
||
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4.2** |
||
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4.3** |
||
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4.4** |
Form of Warrant Agreement between Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant. |
|
|
5.1** |
||
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5.2** |
||
|
10.1** |
Form of Letter Agreement from each of the Registrant’s officers, directors and initial shareholders. |
|
|
10.2** |
||
|
10.3*** |
Promissory Note, Dated December 5, 2024, issued to Chenghe Investment III Limited. |
|
|
10.4** |
||
|
10.5** |
||
|
10.6** |
Form of Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and BTIG, LLC. |
|
|
10.7*** |
||
|
10.8** |
||
|
10.9** |
||
|
10.10** |
Form of Structuring Services Agreement between the Registrant and BTIG, LLC |
|
|
14** |
||
|
23.1** |
||
|
23.2** |
||
|
23.3** |
||
|
24*** |
Power of Attorney (included on signature page on previously filed Registration Statement). |
|
|
99.1** |
||
|
99.2** |
||
|
99.3** |
||
|
99.4*** |
||
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99.5*** |
||
|
99.6*** |
||
|
99.7** |
||
|
101.INS* |
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
|
|
101.SCH* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
|
|
101.CAL* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
|
|
101.DEF* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
|
|
101.LAB* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
|
|
101.PRE* |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
|
|
104* |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
|
|
107*** |
____________
** Filed herewith.
*** Previously Filed.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hong Kong, on July 25, 2025.
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Chenghe Acquisition III Co. |
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By: |
/s/ Shibin Wang |
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|
Name: |
Shibin Wang |
|||
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in its capacity as the duly authorized representative of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., in the City of New York, New York, on the 25th day of July, 2025.
|
By: |
/s/ Colleen A. De Vries |
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|
Name: |
Colleen A. De Vries |
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|
Title: |
Senior Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc. |
II-6
Exhibit 1.1
Underwriting Agreement
between
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
and
BTIG, LLC
Dated [●], 2025
(the “Agreement”)
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
[●], 2025
BTIG, LLC
65 E. 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with BTIG, LLC (“BTIG” or 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,” provided that, if only BTIG is listed on such Schedule A, any references to the Underwriters shall refer exclusively to BTIG) 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, severally and not jointly, and the Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 11,000,000 units of the Company (the “Firm Units”), ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A attached hereto, at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions, excluding Deferred Underwriting Commission (as defined below)) of $9.80 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 Class A ordinary share, of $0.0001 par value, of the Company (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrants”). The Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants included in the Firm Units (and the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants included in the Option Units (as defined below), if any) will trade separately on the 52nd day following the date hereof (or, if such date is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the following Business Day) unless the Representative determines to allow earlier separate trading. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, in no event will the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants included in either the Firm Units or the Option Units trade separately until (i) the Company has filed with the U.S. 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 Unit Private Placement (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 (as defined below) if such option is exercised prior to the filing of the 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. Each whole Warrant entitles its holder to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, commencing 30 days after the consummation by the Company of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”) and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the consummation by the Company of the initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
1.1.2 Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Firm Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, counsel to the Underwriters (“Loeb & Loeb”), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. 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: $110,000,000 of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units and the sale of Private Placement Units (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 Shareholders (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 Odyssey Transfer & Trust Company (“Odyssey”). The funds deposited in the Trust Account shall include an aggregate of $4,400,000 ($0.40 per Firm Unit), payable to the Underwriters as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. 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 certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery, at least one full Business Day 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 Shareholders” means the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including the Co-Sponsors (defined below), any member of the Co-Sponsors or any officer or director of the Company, to the extent, he, she or it acquires such Class A Ordinary Shares in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such Class A Ordinary Shares). “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the City of New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.
1.2 Over-Allotment Option.
1.2.1 Option Units. The Underwriters are hereby granted an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase, ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Units to be purchased by each of them, up to an additional 1,650,000 units (the “Option Units”), the net proceeds of which, together with the proceeds of the Option Private Placement Units (as defined below), 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 and shall be sold at the same purchase price per Firm Unit to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Class A Ordinary Shares, the Warrants included in the Units and the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants 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 the price set forth in Section 1.2.3 hereof.
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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 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 (the “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five 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 Loeb & Loeb 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: $9.80 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative. The amount of the payments for the Option Units to be deposited in the Trust Account will include $0.40 per Option Unit (up to $660,000), payable to the Underwriters, as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for applicable Option Units.
1.3 Deferred Underwriting Commission. The Representative agrees that 4.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($4,400,000) and 4.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Option Units (up to $660,000) (collectively, the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”), will be deposited and held in the Trust Account and payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to the Representative for its own account upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination and Odyssey, as the trustee of the Trust Account (in this context, the “Trustee”), commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Representative agrees that: (i) the Representative shall forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission, including any accrued interest thereon; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Shareholders. Any Deferred Underwriting Commission will be fully earned by each Underwriter upon the payment of the purchase price for the Units purchased by such Underwriter on the closing of the Offering (including payment of the purchase price of any Option Units) and will be paid if and when the Company consummates its Business Combination, without any further conditions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Representative on behalf of itself and the Underwriters agrees that the Deferred Underwriting Commission will be based in part on the funds available in the Trust Account after payments made out of the Trust Account to honor redemption rights of the Public Shareholders.
1.4 Private Placements.
1.4.1 Founder Shares. In December 2024, Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company and our co-sponsor (the “Cayman Sponsor”), purchased from the Company 4,312,500 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Founder Shares”), for an aggregate consideration of $25,000 paid to cover certain offering costs, in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the purchase of Founder Shares. On June 30, 2025, the Cayman Sponsor forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Founder Shares, resulting in 4,126,667 Founder Shares held by Cayman Sponsor. On June 30, 2025, the Cayman Sponsor transferred 1,852,000 Founder Shares to Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and our co-sponsor (the “Delaware Sponsor” and together with the Cayman Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”) for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in the Cayman Sponsor holding 2,364,667 Founder Shares and the Delaware Sponsor holding 1,852,000 Founder Shares. Except as described in the Registration Statement, none of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Co-Sponsors until the earlier of: (i) six months after the consummation of a Business Combination; or (ii) subsequent to the consummation of such Business Combination, (x) when the last reported sale price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary 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 Cayman Sponsor and the Delaware Sponsor will each be required to forfeit such number of Founder Shares (up to 308,435 Founder Shares and up to 241,565 Founder Shares, respectively) such that the Founder Shares then outstanding will comprise 25% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the Offering and the exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option (not including the Private Placement Shares (as defined below)).
3
1.4.2 Unit Private Placement. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Co-Sponsors and the Representative will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.21.2 hereof), an aggregate of 375,000 private placement units (50,000 units to be purchased by the Cayman Sponsor, 215,000 units to be purchased by the Delaware Sponsor and 110,000 to be purchased by the Representative), at a purchase price of $10.00 per unit (the “Private Placement Units”) in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration under Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. Simultaneously with the Option Closing Date (if any), the Delaware Sponsor and the Representative will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreements up to an additional 33,000 Private Placement Units (up to 16,500 units to be purchased by the Delaware Sponsor and up to 16,500 to be purchased by the Representative), at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration under the Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act (the “Option Private Placement Units”). The Private Placement Units and Option Private Placement Units, if any, are substantially identical to the Firm Units, subject to certain exceptions. The private placement of the Private Placement Units and the Option Private Placement Units, if any, is referred to herein as the “Unit Private Placement.” None of the Private Placement Units, the Option Private Placement Units, the Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Private Placement Shares”) or the warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) comprising part of the Private Placement Units, and the Option Private Placement Units, or the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, may be sold, assigned or transferred by the purchasers or their permitted transferees until 30 days after consummation of a Business Combination. Certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units and certain of the proceeds from the sale of the Option Private Placement Units, if any, shall be deposited into the Trust Account. The holders of the Private Placement Shares shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Private Placement Shares. In addition, for as long as any Private Placement Units, Option Private Placement Units, underlying Private Placement Shares and underlying Private Placement Warrants are held by the Representative or its designees or affiliates, such Private Placement Units, Option Private Placement Units, the underlying Private Placement Shares, the underlying Private Placement Warrants and the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be subject to the lock-up and registration rights limitations imposed by FINRA Rule 5110, and the Private Placement Warrants may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined herein).
1.4.3 The Private Placement Units, the Option Private Placement Units, if any, the Private Placement Shares, the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units and the Option Private Placement Units, if any, are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement Securities.” No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Placement Securities. The Public Securities, the Placement Securities and the Founder Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.”
1.5 Working Capital. Upon consummation of the Offering, it is intended that approximately $950,000 (whether or not the Over-allotment Option is exercised) of the proceeds from the Offering and the Unit Private Placement will be released to the Company and held outside of the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
4
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 (other than excise or similar tax that may be due or payable) and up to $100,000 for dissolution expenses, all as more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
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-1 (File No. 333-288524), 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 (and the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants included in 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-1 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 [●] p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus, which was included in the Registration Statement filed on [●], 2025, for distribution by the 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 or an amendment to such Registration Statement (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 the 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 or, 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 agree 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.
2.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. [●]) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants. The registration of the Units, Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof and the Units, the Class A Ordinary Shares 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.
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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 of 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 will 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, the information with respect to dealers’ concessions and reallowances contained in the section entitled “Underwriting,” the information with respect to short positions and stabilizing transactions contained in the section entitled “Underwriting,” and the identity of counsel to the Underwriters contained in the section entitled “Legal Matters” (such information, collectively, the “Underwriters’ Information”).
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) that 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.
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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.
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, other than a change in the title of such officer, 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.
2.4 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, Audit Alliance LLP (“Audit Alliance”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of, and is included in, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, Audit Alliance is currently registered with the PCAOB. Audit Alliance 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.
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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 Class A Ordinary Shares or any security convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Class A Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
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 (meaning that the holder thereof shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on such shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil)); 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 and registered in the Company’s register of members, will be validly issued, and the Class A Ordinary Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that the holder thereof shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on such shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil)); 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 Warrants 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 Warrants 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 Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms thereof, such Class A Ordinary Shares will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that the holder thereof shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on such shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil)), 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 Placement Securities. The Private Placement Warrants 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. The Private Placement Shares have been duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that the holder thereof shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on such shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil)), and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants have been reserved for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Private Placement Warrants and registered in the Company’s register of members, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that the holder thereof shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on such shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil)), and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.
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 warrants 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 Warrant 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) and the Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.21.2) (collectively with this Agreement, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered, and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of each Transaction Document by the other parties hereto and thereto, 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.
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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 memorandum and articles of association of the Company (collectively, the “Charter Documents”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, assets or business constituted as of the date hereof; except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).
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, except for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 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, except for any such violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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 purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure to would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with its formation and in furtherance of the Offering.
2.12.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into the Transaction Documents and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection herewith and therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization, or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale, and delivery, of the 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 LLC (“Nasdaq”) and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
2.13 D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, all information contained in the questionnaires (“Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors and shareholders (“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) (the “Biographies”) 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 or in the Biographies to become inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete in any material respect.
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2.14 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding 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 shareholder or member of an Insider that would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, that has not been disclosed, that is required to be disclosed, in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to Nasdaq.
2.15 Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as an exempted company 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 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. The Company has not identified any specific Business Combination target (each a “Target Business”) and it has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, directly or indirectly, contacted any Target Business or initiated any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with any Target Business regarding a Business Combination with the Company.
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 defined 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; or (ii) any participating member, as defined in FINRA Rule 5110, with respect to the Offering (“Participating 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 any Participating Member 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 Participating Member. 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 “underwriting compensation” as defined in FINRA Rule 5110.
2.17.3 FINRA Affiliation. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, 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) (other than the Representative and its associated persons) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Participating Member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Representative and Loeb & Loeb 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 Participating Member.
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2.17.4 Share Ownership. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, 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 Participating Member (other than securities purchased on the open market) (other than the Representative and its associated persons).
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 Participating Member.
2.17.6 Proceeds of the Offering. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation), the Private Placement Units or Option Private Placement Units, if any, will be paid to any Participating Member, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.17.7 Conflicts of Interest. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no Participating Member has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” exists when a Participating Member 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.
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, or under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction, 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 and all non-U.S. 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 (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect). 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 or as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 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.
2.18.3 In the event an excise tax and/or any other similar fee or tax in nature is levied or imposed on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in relation to any redemptions or stock buybacks as described in the Registration Statement or otherwise, the Company agrees not to make payment of any such tax or fee from proceeds placed in the Trust Account or the interest earned on the proceeds placed in the Trust Account and further agrees not to seek recourse for any such tax or fee from the Trust Account.
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.
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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.
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 the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.
2.20 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 Loeb & Loeb 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. On the date of this Agreement, the Company will cause to be duly executed and delivered to the Underwriters 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 non-compete 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.
2.21.2 Purchase Agreements. On the date of this Agreement, the Company and each of the Co-Sponsors have executed and delivered to the Underwriters Private Placement Units Purchase Agreements, the forms of which are annexed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Sponsor Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Co-Sponsors will, among other things, on the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, consummate the purchase of and deliver the purchase price for the Private Placement Units to be sold to the Co-Sponsors as described in Section 1.4.2, and as provided for in such Sponsor Purchase Agreements. The Company and the Representative shall have executed and delivered a Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Representative Purchase Agreement” and together with the Sponsor Purchase Agreements, the “Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Representative will, among other things, on the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, consummate the purchase of and deliver the purchase price for the Private Placement Units to be sold to the Representative as described in Section 1.4.2 and as provided for in such Representative Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, (i) each of the Co-Sponsors and the Representative have waived any and all rights and claims they may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Private Placement Units, and (ii) certain of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units and certain of the proceeds from the sale of the Option Private Placement Units, if any, will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement on the Closing Date and Option Closing Date (if any) as provided for in the Purchase Agreements.
2.21.3 Services Agreement. On the date of this Agreement (a) the Company and the Cayman Sponsor have executed and delivered to the Underwriters an Administrative Services Agreement, the form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Services Agreement”), pursuant to which the Cayman Sponsor will provide office space, administrative and shared personnel support services for the Company, for which the Company will pay the Cayman Sponsor $15,000 per month (the “Administrative Services Fee”) starting on the Effective Date and continuing until the earlier of (x) the completion of the Business Combination and (y) the liquidation of the Company.
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2.21.4 Registration Rights Agreement. On the date of this Agreement, the Company, the Co-Sponsors, the Representative and other holders of the Founder Shares, if any, entered into and delivered to the Underwriters a Registration Rights Agreement (the “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 Cayman Sponsor has agreed to make loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of up to $300,000 (the “Insider Loans”) pursuant to a promissory note 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 December 31, 2026 or the date on which the Company consummates the Offering.
2.22 Investment Management Trust Agreement. On the date of this Agreement, the Company has entered into and delivered to the Underwriters the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Unit Private Placement substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
2.23 Warrant Agreement. On the date of this Agreement, the Company has entered into and delivered to the Underwriters a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants included in the Units and the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units and certain other warrants that may be issued by the Company with Odyssey substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant 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 (the “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.
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 the 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.
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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 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), 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 Listing on Nasdaq. The Public Securities have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on Nasdaq, 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 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of 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 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of Nasdaq.
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)(1)(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 Representative 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 under the Act. The Company: (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) 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.
2.37 No Fee Arrangements. As of the date hereof, the Company has not entered into any agreement, written or oral, pursuant to which the Company will be obligated to pay any Insider or an affiliate of any Insider a consulting, finder or success fee for assisting the Company in consummating a Business Combination.
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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 Representative, 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.
3.2.2 Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3 Exchange Act Registration. The Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Class A Ordinary Shares (or any successor security for which Class A Ordinary Shares are exchangeable in connection with a Business Combination) 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 prior to the earlier of the Company’s liquidation or the Business Combination.
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 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 under the Act, without the prior consent of the Representative.
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 of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
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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 as promptly as reasonably possible 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 or a committee of independent and disinterested members of its board of directors 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.
3.7 Reports to the Representative. For a period from the Effective Date until such time when the Company either completes its Business Combination or is required to be liquidated, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company files 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 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 or furnished to the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.7.
3.8 Transfer Agent. For a period from the Effective Date until such time when the Company either completes its Business Combination or is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. Odyssey is acceptable to the Representative.
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3.9 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, not to exceed $4,000 per person (in the case of investigations and background checks in U.S. jurisdictions) and $5,000 per person (in the case of investigations and background checks in non-U.S. jurisdictions), (iv) the preparation, printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units and the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Warrants included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) filing fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA and the documented fees of the Representative’s legal counsel incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the Offering by FINRA (which amount shall not exceed $15,000), (vi) fees, costs and expenses incurred in listing the Securities on Nasdaq or such other share exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine, (vii) all fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent, (viii) reasonable expenses from all participants (including the Underwriters) associated with “due diligence” and “road show” meetings arranged by the Representative and any presentations made available by way of a net roadshow, 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; (ix) the cost of Ipreo database charges; and (x) 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 3.9, provided (i) any such transaction expense paid by the Representative to be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to this Section 3.9 equal to or exceeding $7,500 shall be pre-approved by the Company in writing and (ii) such transaction expenses paid by Representative to be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall not exceed $50,000 in the aggregate without the prior written approval of the Company. 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 set forth above (which shall be mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Representative prior to Closing) to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others. If the Offering is not consummated for any reason other than a material breach by the Underwriters of their obligations hereunder, the expenses set forth above paid by the Representative, shall be reimbursed by the Cayman Sponsor or the Company.
In addition, the Company agrees to pay for certain documented costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Business Combination, including the fees and expenses of their legal counsel, to the extent provided for in Section 3.32(a) hereof (which shall not exceed an amount to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Representative at such time).
3.10 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and Unit Private Placement received by it in a manner materially consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.11 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. Any financial statements filed or furnished on the Commission’s EDGAR website will be considered to be generally available to security holders for purposes of this Section 3.11.
3.12 Notice to the Representative or FINRA.
3.12.1 Notice to the Representative. For a period of 60 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 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 a Participating Member with respect to the Offering. 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.
3.12.2 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 10% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes a Participating Member.
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3.12.3 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.
3.13 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor to its knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
3.14 Intentionally Omitted.
3.15 Payment of Deferred Underwriting Commission on Business Combination. Upon the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Company agrees that it will cause the Trustee to pay the Deferred Underwriting Commission directly from the Trust Account to the Representative, in accordance with Section 1.3. The Representative shall have no claim to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account representing the Deferred Underwriting Commission.
3.16 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.
3.17 Auditor. Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain Audit Alliance or another nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative.
3.18 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 Unit Private Placement. Within four 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. Additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-allotment Option provided for in Section 1.2 hereof, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four Business Days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall disclose the Company’s sale of the Option Units and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom, unless the receipt of such proceeds are reflected in the Current Report on Form 8-K referenced in the immediately prior sentence.
3.19 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction of Loeb & Loeb.
3.20 Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as provided for in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
3.21 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.
3.22 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 delayed, conditioned or withheld), for a period of 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.
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3.23 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 the Offering, including, without limitation, liabilities or losses arising under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Regulations and any applicable foreign securities laws) until the consummation of the Business Combination.
3.24 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 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).
3.25 Private Placement Proceeds. On or prior to the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall have caused the applicable proceeds from the Unit Private Placement and certain of the proceeds from the sale of the Option Private Placement Units, if any, to be deposited into the Trust Account in accordance with the Purchase Agreements.
3.26 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 with respect to such financing.
3.27 Amendments to Agreements. Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company shall not amend, modify or otherwise change the Trust Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or any Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative, which will not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld.
3.28 Maintenance of Nasdaq Listing. Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities on Nasdaq or a national securities exchange acceptable to the Representative.
3.29 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 and the Private Placement Warrants outstanding from time to time.
3.30 Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Representative 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.
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3.31 Clear Market. For a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Class A Ordinary Shares or Founder Shares or publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares or Founder Shares owned, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representative, except, in each case, that the Company may (a) issue and sell the Private Placement Units, (b) issue and sell the Option Units on exercise of the option provided for in Section 1.2.2 hereof (if any), (c) register with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the resale of the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Units and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants underlying the Private Placement Units or warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) and (d) issue securities in connection with a Business Combination. However, the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply to the forfeiture of any Founder Shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of Founder Shares to any current or future independent director of the Company (as long as such current or future independent director transferee is subject to the terms of the Insider Letter applicable to directors and officers at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any reporting obligation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). The Representative in its sole discretion may release or waive the transfer restrictions set forth herein at any time without notice.
3.32 Obligations in Connection with Business Combination.
(a) In connection with the initial Business Combination, the Company shall, if requested by the Underwriters, (i) provide, or cause the target of the initial Business Combination to provide, to the Underwriters and their representatives, customary documentation, including (A) all financial and other records, including any financial forecasts or projections, (B) pertinent corporate documents, (C) material contracts, (D) documents and information contained in the virtual data room used in connection with the initial Business Combination, and (E) any other information, certifications or documentation reasonably requested by the Underwriters and their representatives with respect to the parties to the definitive agreement for the Company’s initial Business Combination (the “Business Combination Agreement”), in each case, with reasonable advance opportunity to review the foregoing; (ii) cause appropriate officers, directors and employees of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, and cause representatives of the Company’s and the initial Business Combination target’s accountants and auditors, to participate in any due diligence sessions reasonably requested by the Underwriters in connection with the initial Business Combination; and (iii) provide, and in the case of the target of the initial Business Combination, cause to provide, customary comfort letters, legal opinions and negative assurance letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, each dated as of the effective date of the registration statement (if applicable), statutory prospectus, prospectus or proxy statement filed in connection with the initial Business Combination and as of the date of the shareholder vote to approve the initial Business Combination. The Company agrees to pay for the documented costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the foregoing, including the fees and expenses of their legal counsel, which shall not exceed an amount to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Representative at such time.
(b) The Company shall include in any Business Combination agreement (i) a covenant for the assignment and assumption, by the public entity resulting from the Business Combination, of all of the Company’s indemnification obligations under Section 5 hereof and (ii) that the Underwriters may rely on the representations and warranties contained therein as if they were a party thereto.
(c) In connection with the initial Business Combination, the Company shall cause the target of the initial Business Combination to execute and deliver to the Representative a joinder agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, pursuant to which it shall join this Agreement as a signatory and a party for purposes of being subject to this Section 3.32, and as a result, the Company’s obligations to cause the Target to take such actions shall cease to be of force or effect.
(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to obligate the Underwriters to take any action, or to refrain from taking any action, in connection with the Business Combination and any such actions will be undertaken by each Underwriter, in respect of itself, in its sole discretion and only pursuant to a separate, definitive written agreement between such Underwriter and the Company or another Registrant.
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(e) The Company shall (i) (A) provide the Underwriters and their representatives with notice of filing of, and a reasonable advance opportunity to review and comment on, any registration statement, statutory prospectus, prospectus, proxy statement, tender offer document or offering document, including exhibits and financial statements included or incorporated by reference therein or any amendment or supplement thereto, to be filed with or furnished to the Commission in connection with the initial Business Combination (each, a “Business Combination Disclosure Document”), prior to each such filing, and not permit the filing thereof without the prior written consent of the Underwriters which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (B) provide each Underwriter and its representatives a reasonable advance opportunity to review and comment on any publicly-disseminated document that names or describes such Underwriter, whether or not such document is filed, (C) give reasonable consideration to accepting any comments made by the Underwriters and their representatives in respect of such Business Combination Disclosure Documents, and (D) consider in good faith including in any such filing, document or response all comments reasonably proposed by the Underwriters and their representatives; provided that any information naming or describing an Underwriter must be in a form and content reasonably satisfactory to such Underwriter; and (ii) upon the request by the Underwriters, promptly file an amendment to any Business Combination Disclosure Document, filed in connection with the initial Business Combination, to correct any information to the extent that such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, or to correct any material omissions therefrom.
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 in all material respects 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 [●] p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative.
4.1.2 FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Underwriters shall have received a letter of no objections from FINRA as to the terms and arrangements and 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 at each Option Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
4.1.4 Approval for Listing on Nasdaq. The Securities shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, 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 U.S. Counsel. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance statement of Paul Hastings 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Loeb & Loeb, as well as the favorable opinion and negative assurance letter of Loeb & Loeb, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
4.2.2 Closing Date and Option Closing Date Opinions of Cayman Counsel. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Ogier (Cayman) 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Loeb & Loeb.
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4.2.3 Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsels 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 if requested. The opinion of counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it 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 Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in Section 4.3.3 below) to the Representative from Audit Alliance dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any:
4.3.1 Confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations;
4.3.2 Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;
4.3.3 Stating that, on the basis of their review, a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and Board of Directors and the various committees of the Board of Directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, or at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the share capital or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the shareholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the March 31, 2025 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
4.3.4 Setting forth, at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities of the Company (including a break-down of commercial papers and notes payable to banks);
4.3.5 Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement; and
4.3.6 Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative or Loeb & Loeb may reasonably request, including that Audit Alliance is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
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, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or any similar or equivalent officer 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 in all material respects 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 the 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.
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4.4.2 Chief Executive’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 Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing 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 Offering 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 Nasdaq, (v) as to the accuracy and completeness, to the Company’s knowledge (assuming reasonable inquiry) of the certificates specified in Section 4.4.1 hereof, and (vi) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
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.
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5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and their affiliates, and each dealer selected by the Underwriters that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, members and employees and each person, if any, who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act (“Controlling Person”) any Underwriter, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever as incurred to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) the Registration Statement, the Business Combination Disclosure Documents, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented, including, but not limited to any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any foreign or state securities commission or agency, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), any other securities exchange or the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (the “OTCBB”); or (iv) any post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or new Registration Statement or Prospectus filed by the Company with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, OTCBB or any securities exchange; or (v) the omission or alleged omission from the Registration Statement, the Business Combination Disclosure Documents, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or subsequent filing by the Company under clause (iv) of a 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, and to reimburse each Underwriter, its affiliates, each Selected Dealer and each of their respective directors, officers, partners, agents, members and employees and each Controlling Person, if any, for any and all reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriters) as such expenses are incurred by each Underwriter, its affiliates, such Selected Dealer or each of their respective directors, officers, partners, agents, members and employees or such Controlling Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim damage, liability, expense or action, whether or not any such person is a party to any such claim or action and including any and all reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise; provided, however, that the foregoing agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon (vi) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be, or the jurisdictions listed in the section entitled “Underwriting” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, as the case may be; (y) the use of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in violation of any stop order or other notice received by the Underwriters indicating the then current Prospectus is not to be used in connection with the sale of any Securities or (z) the Underwriters otherwise failing in its prospectus delivery obligations. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 5.1 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
5.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each Controlling Person of the Company, if any, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to, the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for use in, the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any such application, and to reimburse the Company or any such director, officer or Controlling Person, if any, for any and all expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred, in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the obligation of each Underwriter to indemnify the Company (including any director, officer or Controlling Person thereof), shall be limited to the commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it pursuant to this Agreement. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, shall consist solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 5.2 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriter may otherwise have.
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5.3 Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under Sections 5.1 or 5.2 above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in Sections 5.1 or 5.2 above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that (a) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (b) the indemnifying party agrees to such separate representation, then, in each case, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (iii) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the provision to the preceding sentence reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Underwriter in the case of Section 5.2), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action, (iv) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (v) the indemnifying party is not defending such action in good faith, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party. 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 (as well as one local counsel for each applicable jurisdiction) 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.
5.4 Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 5 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be withheld, delayed or conditioned unreasonably, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 5.3 hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional written release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding 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.
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5.5 Contribution.
5.5.1 Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such case, each Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and each Underwriter, as incurred, in such proportion as is represented by the percentage of the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus as compared to the offering price per Unit and the Company shall be responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) with respect to any action or claim shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation with respect to such action or claim. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information furnished by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.5.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer, agent, partner, member and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable.
5.5.2 Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“Contributing Party”), notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the Contributing Party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a Contributing Party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the Contributing Party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding without the written consent of such Contributing Party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.5 are several and not joint.
6. Default by an Underwriter.
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units, the Representative may, in its discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one 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 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 9.3 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.
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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 Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such securities.
7. Additional Covenants.
7.1 Additional Shares or Options. The Company hereby agrees that, until the consummation of a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Class A Ordinary Shares or any options or other securities convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares, 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 Class A Ordinary Shares 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 $110,000,000 (without giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option), for the benefit of the Public Shareholders 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 Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem Class A Ordinary Shares contained in the Public Securities in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or amendments to the Charter Documents as described in the Prospectus, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation of the Trust Account if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter Documents and the Prospectus, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (iv) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (v) 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 and Purchase Agreements. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of any Insider Letter and the Purchase Agreements and will not allow any waivers, amendments, or modifications of such Insider Letters or Purchase Agreements without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed, conditioned or withheld.
7.4 Trust Agreement Matters. The Company agrees that the Trust Agreement shall provide that the trustee is required to obtain a joint written instruction signed by both the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account from the Trust Account, prior to commencing any liquidation of the assets of the Trust Account in connection with the consummation of any Business Combination, and such provision of the Trust Agreement shall not be permitted to be amended without the prior written consent of the Representative.
7.5 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-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.
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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 assets held in the Trust Account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business (excluding taxes payable and the Deferred Underwriting Commission). 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, provided that the Target Business is not affiliated with an Insider.
7.8 Right of First Refusal. Until the later of November 5, 2026 or the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Representative shall have a right of first refusal to act as a capital markets advisor, placement agent, or book-running manager, as the case may be, in connection with any private placement or public offering of equity, equity-linked or debt securities of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances shall the Representative or any of its affiliates be obligated to accept any offer to act as the Company’s placement agent, underwriter, or advisor and nothing contained herein shall constitute the agreement of the Representative to so act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three (3) years from the date of this Agreement.
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 or any Controlling Person, 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 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, if (i) 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; (ii) trading on the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, NYSE or the NYSE American or quoted on the OTCBB 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; (iii) the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in existing major hostilities; (iv) a banking moratorium has been declared by New York State or a Federal authority; (v) a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market; (vi) the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity (including without limitation, a calamity relating to a public health matter or natural disaster) 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; (vii) the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or (viii) the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities or other calamity (including without limitation, a calamity relating to a public health matter or natural disaster) or crisis either within or outside the United States, or a material increase in any of the foregoing, 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. In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.9 hereof.
9.4 Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way 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 facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, or by electronic transmission via PDF, and shall be deemed given when so transmitted, mailed, delivered or faxed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
BTIG, LLC
65 E. 55th Street
New York, New York, 10022
Attn: General Counsel
Email: iblegal@btig.com
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
Attn: Alexandria Kane, Esq.
If to the Company:
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
Attn: Dr. Shibin Wang, Chief Executive Officer
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Paul Hastings LLP
609 Main Street
Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002
Attn: Will Burns, Esq.
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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 Selected Dealers, the Company and the Controlling Persons, 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.
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 submits to the exclusive 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 it 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. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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.
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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.
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, non-compliance 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, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the 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, | ||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Accepted on the date first above written. | |
| BTIG, LLC, | |
| as Representative of the several underwriters |
| By: | ||
| Name: | Paul Wood | |
| Title: | Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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SCHEDULE A
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
11,000,000 Units
| Underwriter | Number of Firm Units to be Purchased | |||
| BTIG, LLC | ||||
| CBC Securities, Inc. | ||||
| TOTAL | 11,000,000 | |||
34
SCHEDULE B
[Investor Presentation ([●] 2025).]
35
Exhibit 3.2
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Memorandum
of Association of
(Adopted by special resolution passed on ________ 2025)
|
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association
of
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
(Adopted by special resolution passed on ___________ 2025)
| 1 | The name of the Company is Chenghe Acquisition III Co.. |
| 2 | The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman KY1-9009, Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may decide. |
| 3 | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
| 4 | The liability of each Member is limited to the amount unpaid on such Member’s shares. |
| 5 | The share capital of the Company is US$55,100 divided into (i) 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, (ii) 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and (iii) 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. However, subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has the power to do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and |
| (b) | to increase or reduce its capital; and |
| (c) | to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
| (i) | with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
| (ii) | subject to any limitations or restrictions |
and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or
| (d) | to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
| 6 | The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Articles
of Association of
(Adopted by special resolution passed on ________ 2025)
|
CONTENTS
| 1 | Interpretation | 1 |
| 2 | Commencement of Business | 6 |
| 3 | Issue of Shares and other Securities | 6 |
| 4 | Register of Members | 7 |
| 5 | Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date | 7 |
| 6 | Certificates for Shares | 8 |
| 7 | Transfer of Shares | 9 |
| 8 | Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares | 9 |
| 9 | Treasury Shares | 10 |
| 10 | Variation of Rights of Shares | 10 |
| 11 | Commission on Sale of Shares | 11 |
| 12 | Non Recognition of Trusts | 11 |
| 13 | Lien on Shares | 11 |
| 14 | Call on Shares | 12 |
| 15 | Forfeiture of Shares | 12 |
| 16 | Transmission of Shares | 13 |
| 17 | Class B Share Conversion | 14 |
| 18 | Amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Alteration of Capital | 16 |
| 19 | Offices and Places of Business | 16 |
| 20 | General Meetings | 17 |
| 21 | Notice of General Meetings | 18 |
| 22 | Proceedings at General Meetings | 18 |
| 23 | Votes of Members | 20 |
| 24 | Proxies | 20 |
| 25 | Corporate Members | 21 |
| 26 | Shares that May Not be Voted | 22 |
| 27 | Directors | 22 |
| 28 | Powers of Directors | 22 |
| 29 | Appointment and Removal of Directors | 23 |
| 30 | Vacation of Office of Director | 23 |
| 31 | Proceedings of Directors | 24 |
| 32 | Presumption of Assent | 25 |
| 33 | Directors’ Interests | 25 |
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| 34 | Minutes | 26 |
| 35 | Delegation of Directors’ Powers | 26 |
| 36 | No Minimum Shareholding | 27 |
| 37 | Remuneration of Directors | 28 |
| 38 | Seal | 28 |
| 39 | Dividends, Distributions and Reserve | 28 |
| 40 | Capitalisation | 30 |
| 41 | Books of Account | 30 |
| 42 | Audit | 31 |
| 43 | Notices | 32 |
| 44 | Winding Up | 33 |
| 45 | Indemnity and Insurance | 34 |
| 46 | Financial Year | 34 |
| 47 | Transfer by Way of Continuation | 35 |
| 48 | Mergers and Consolidations | 35 |
| 49 | Business Combination | 35 |
| 50 | Certain Tax Filings | 38 |
| 51 | Business Opportunities | 38 |
| 52 | Exclusive Jurisdiction and Forum | 39 |
ii
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated Articles of Association
of
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
(Adopted by special resolution passed on ____________ 2025)
| 1 | Interpretation |
| 1.1 | In the Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith: |
|
Affiliate |
in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. |
| Applicable Law | means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person. |
| Articles | means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company. |
| Audit Committee | means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| Auditor | means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). |
1
| Business Combination | means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (the target business), which Business Combination: (a) as long as the securities of the Company are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes paid or payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement to enter into such Business Combination; and (b) must not be solely effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
| business day | means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City. |
| Clearing House | means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. |
| Class A Share | means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. |
| Class B Share | means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. |
| Company | means the above named company. |
| Company’s Website | means the website of the Company and/or its web-address or domain name (if any). |
| Compensation Committee | means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| Designated Stock Exchange | means any United States national securities exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed for trading, including The New York Stock Exchange. |
| Directors | means the directors for the time being of the Company. |
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| Dividend | means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles. |
| Electronic Communication | means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors. |
| Electronic Record | has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act. |
| Electronic Transactions Act | means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
| Equity-linked Securities | means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. |
| Exchange Act | means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. |
| Founders | means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO. |
| Independent Director | has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. |
| IPO | means the Company’s initial public offering of securities. |
| Member | has the same meaning as in the Statute. |
| Memorandum | means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company. |
| Nominating Committee | means the nominating committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
| Officer | means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company. |
| Ordinary Resolution | means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and includes a unanimous written resolution. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles. |
3
| Ordinary Share | means an ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. |
| Over-Allotment Option | means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15 per cent of the firm units issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10 per unit, less underwriting discounts and commissions. |
| Permitted Withdrawals | means amounts withdrawn from the Trust Account to pay the Company’s taxes (excluding U.S. federal excise tax), provided that all Permitted Withdrawals may only be made from interest and not from the principal held in the Trust Account. |
| Preference Share | means a preference share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. |
| Public Share | means a Class A Share issued as part of the units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO. |
| Redemption Notice | means a notice in a form approved by the Company by which a holder of Public Shares is entitled to require the Company to redeem its Public Shares, subject to any conditions contained therein. |
| Register of Members | means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members. |
| Registered Office | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. |
| Representative | means a representative of the Underwriters. |
| Seal | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. |
| Securities and Exchange Commission | means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
| Share | means a Class A Share, a Class B Share, or a Preference Share and includes a fraction of a share in the Company.
|
4
| Special Resolution | subject to Article 29.4, has the same meaning as in the Statute, and includes a unanimous written resolution. |
| Co-Sponsors | means Chenghe Investment II Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, and its successors or assigns and Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors or assigns. |
| Statute | means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
| Tax Filing Authorised Person | means such person as any Director shall designate from time to time, acting severally. |
| Treasury Share | means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute. |
| Trust Account | means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of the IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of private placement of units simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited. |
| Underwriter | means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time and any successor underwriter. |
| 1.2 | In the Articles: |
| (a) | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
| (b) | words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; |
| (c) | words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person; |
| (d) | “written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| (e) | “shall” shall be construed as imperative and “may” shall be construed as permissive; |
| (f) | references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced; |
| (g) | any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms; |
5
| (h) | the term “and/or” is used herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires); |
| (i) | headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles; |
| (j) | any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| (k) | any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act; |
| (l) | sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply; |
| (m) | the term “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and |
| (n) | the term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share. |
| 2 | Commencement of Business |
| 2.1 | The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit. |
| 2.2 | The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
| 3 | Issue of Shares and other Securities |
| 3.1 | Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividends or other distributions, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights, save that the Directors shall not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Share Conversion set out in the Articles. |
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| 3.2 | The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
| 3.3 | The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of whole or fractional Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, upon such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another. |
| 3.4 | The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer. |
| 4 | Register of Members |
| 4.1 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. |
| 4.2 | The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Directors may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time. |
| 5 | Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date |
| 5.1 | For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days. |
| 5.2 | In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose. |
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| 5.3 | If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
| 6 | Certificates for Shares |
| 6.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to the Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. |
| 6.2 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
| 6.3 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
| 6.4 | Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery. |
| 6.5 | Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company. |
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| 7 | Transfer of Shares |
| 7.1 | Subject to the terms of the Articles, any Member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options, warrants or units issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such right, option, warrant or unit. |
| 7.2 | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members. |
| 8 | Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares |
| 8.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of such Shares, except Public Shares, shall be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of such Shares. With respect to redeeming or repurchasing the Shares: |
| (a) | Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in the Business Combination Article hereof; |
| (b) | Class B Shares held by the Co-Sponsors shall be surrendered by the Co-Sponsor for no consideration on a pro-rata basis to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Founders will own 25 per cent of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO (exclusive of any securities purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and |
| (c) | Public Shares shall be repurchased in the circumstances set out in the Business Combination Article hereof. |
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| 8.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member or in the manner set out in the Business Combination Article hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions, repurchases and surrenders of Shares in the circumstances described in the Article above shall not require further approval of the Members. |
| 8.3 | The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital. |
| 8.4 | The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share. |
| 9 | Treasury Shares |
| 9.1 | The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
| 9.2 | The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration). |
| 10 | Variation of Rights of Shares |
| 10.1 | Subject to Article 3.1, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued Shares of that class (other than with respect to a waiver of the provisions of the Class B Share Conversion Article hereof, which as stated therein shall only require the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that class), or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one-third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. |
| 10.2 | For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares. |
| 10.3 | The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith or Shares issued with preferred or other rights. |
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| 11 | Commission on Sale of Shares |
The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.
| 12 | Non Recognition of Trusts |
The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.
| 13 | Lien on Shares |
| 13.1 | The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien thereon. The Company’s lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share. |
| 13.2 | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold. |
| 13.3 | To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company’s power of sale under the Articles. |
| 13.4 | The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale. |
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| 14 | Call on Shares |
| 14.1 | Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen clear days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. |
| 14.2 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. |
| 14.3 | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
| 14.4 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part. |
| 14.5 | An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
| 14.6 | The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid. |
| 14.7 | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance. |
| 14.8 | No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable. |
| 15 | Forfeiture of Shares |
| 15.1 | If a call or instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
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| 15.2 | If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
| 15.3 | A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person. |
| 15.4 | A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by him in respect of those Shares. |
| 15.5 | A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share. |
| 15.6 | The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
| 16 | Transmission of Shares |
| 16.1 | If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors (where he was a joint holder), or his legal personal representatives (where he was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which he was a joint or sole holder. |
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| 16.2 | Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by him to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of such Share. If he elects to have another person registered as the holder of such Share he shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be. |
| 16.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of such Share. However, he shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to have some person nominated by him be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within ninety days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to the Articles), the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
| 17 | Class B Share Conversion |
| 17.1 | The rights attaching to the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects, with the exception that the holder of a Class B Share shall have the conversion rights referred to in this Article, and the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters (subject to the Variation of Rights of Shares Article, the Appointment and Removal of Directors Article and the Transfer by Way of Continuation Article hereof). |
| 17.2 | Class B Shares may be converted into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis prior to the consummation of a Business Combination at the option of the holder. |
| 17.3 | Any Class B Shares not converted into Class A Shares pursuant to Article 17.2 above shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis (the Initial Conversion Ratio) concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of a Business Combination. |
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| 17.4 | Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, by the Company in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the consummation of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares at the time of the consummation of a Business Combination at a ratio for which the Class B Shares shall convert into Class A Shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the Class B Shares in issue agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, in the aggregate, 25 per cent of the sum of all Class A Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO plus all Class A Shares and any Equity-linked Securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of a Business Combination, excluding any Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities or rights exercisable for or convertible into Class A Shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Business Combination and any private placement units (including the underlying securities) issued at the time of the IPO or issued to the Co-Sponsors (or any of them) or the Company’s officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans. |
| 17.5 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in the Variation of Rights of Shares Article hereof. |
| 17.6 | The foregoing conversion ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by share subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of Shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class B Shares in issue. |
| 17.7 | Each Class B Share shall convert into its pro rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class B Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of 1 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class B Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class B Shares in issue at the time of conversion. |
| 17.8 | References in this Article to “converted”, “conversion” or “exchange” shall mean the compulsory redemption without notice of Class B Shares of any Member and, on behalf of such Members, automatic application of such redemption proceeds in paying for such new Class A Shares into which the Class B Shares have been converted or exchanged at a price per Class B Share necessary to give effect to a conversion or exchange calculated on the basis that the Class A Shares to be issued as part of the conversion or exchange will be issued at par. The Class A Shares to be issued on an exchange or conversion shall be registered in the name of such Member or in such name as the Member may direct. |
| 17.9 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, in no event may any Class B Share convert into Class A Shares at a ratio that is less than one-for-one. |
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| 18 | Amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Alteration of Capital |
| 18.1 | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert all or any of its paid-up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up Shares of any denomination; |
| (d) | by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and |
| (e) | cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the Ordinary Resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled. |
| 18.2 | All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital. |
| 18.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution and Article 29.4, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
| (a) | change its name; |
| (b) | alter or add to the Articles; |
| (c) | alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and |
| (d) | reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund. |
| 19 | Offices and Places of Business |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.
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| 20 | General Meetings |
| 20.1 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
| 20.2 | The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Statute) be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Any annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
| 20.3 | The Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board of Directors may call general meetings, and, for the avoidance of doubt, Members shall not have the ability to call general meetings. |
| 20.4 | A Members’ requisition is a requisition of Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than ten per cent in par value of the issued Shares which as at that date carry the right to vote at general meetings of the Company. |
| 20.5 | The Members’ requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists. |
| 20.6 | If there are no Directors as at the date of the deposit of the Members’ requisition or if the Directors do not within twenty-one days from the date of the deposit of the Members’ requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of the requisitionists, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall be held no later than the day which falls three months after the expiration of the said twenty-one day period. |
| 20.7 | A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors. |
| 20.8 | Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for appointment as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the Company’s proxy statement released to Members in connection with the previous year’s annual general meeting or, if the Company did not hold an annual general meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year’s annual general meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s annual general meeting, then the deadline shall be set by the board of Directors with such deadline being a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its related proxy materials. |
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| 21 | Notice of General Meetings |
| 21.1 | At least five days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than ninety-five per cent in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
| 21.2 | The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non receipt of notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting. |
| 22 | Proceedings at General Meetings |
| 22.1 | No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. The holders of one-third of the Shares being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum. |
| 22.2 | A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
| 22.3 | A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of all of the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations or other non-natural persons, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
| 22.4 | If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and/or place or to such other day, time and/or place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall be a quorum. |
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| 22.5 | The Directors may, at any time prior to the time appointed for the meeting to commence, appoint any person to act as chairman of a general meeting of the Company or, if the Directors do not make any such appointment, the chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at such general meeting. If there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 22.6 | If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 22.7 | The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. |
| 22.8 | When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting. |
| 22.9 | If a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the Directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting. |
| 22.10 | When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The Directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed. |
| 22.11 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
| 22.12 | A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
| 22.13 | A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such date, time and place as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll. |
| 22.14 | In the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
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| 23 | Votes of Members |
| 23.1 | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, including as set out at Article 29.4, every Member present in any such manner shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder. |
| 23.2 | In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy), shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members. |
| 23.3 | A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Member’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy. |
| 23.4 | No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid. |
| 23.5 | No objection shall be raised as to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
| 23.6 | Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy). A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes. |
| 23.7 | A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed. |
| 24 | Proxies |
| 24.1 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member. |
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| 24.2 | The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote. |
| 24.3 | The chairman may in any event at his discretion declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the chairman, shall be invalid. |
| 24.4 | The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll. |
| 24.5 | Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy. |
| 25 | Corporate Members |
| 25.1 | Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member. |
| 25.2 | If a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)). |
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| 26 | Shares that May Not be Voted |
Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.
| 27 | Directors |
| 27.1 | There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person provided however that subject to the requirement to have at least one director, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. |
| 27.2 | The Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Upon the adoption of the Articles, the existing Directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class II or Class III Directors. Our board of Directors is divided into three classes with only one class of Directors being appointed in each year and each class (except for those Directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. The Class I Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s first annual general meeting, the Class II Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s second annual general meeting and the Class III Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s third annual general meeting. Commencing at the Company’s first annual general meeting, and at each annual general meeting thereafter, Directors appointed to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be appointed for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment. Except as the Statute or other Applicable Law may otherwise require, in the interim between annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings called for the appointment of Directors and/or the removal of one or more Directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, additional Directors and any vacancies in the board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of Directors for cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Articles), or by the sole remaining Director. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. A Director appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. |
| 28 | Powers of Directors |
| 28.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
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| 28.2 | All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution. |
| 28.3 | The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
| 28.4 | The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
| 29 | Appointment and Removal of Directors |
| 29.1 | Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares remove any Director. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the closing of a Business Combination, holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any Director. |
| 29.2 | The Directors may appoint any person to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Directors to exceed any number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles as the maximum number of Directors. |
| 29.3 | After the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director. |
| 29.4 | Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, Article 29.1 may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by at least 90 per cent of such Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a Special Resolution has been given, or by way of unanimous written resolution. |
| 30 | Vacation of Office of Director |
The office of a Director shall be vacated if:
| (a) | the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or |
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| (b) | the Director absents himself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; or |
| (c) | the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (d) | the Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or |
| (e) | all of the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a Director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other Directors. |
| 31 | Proceedings of Directors |
| 31.1 | The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the Directors then in office. |
| 31.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. |
| 31.3 | A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any committee of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is located at the start of the meeting. |
| 31.4 | A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Directors or, in the case of a resolution in writing relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office by any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held. |
| 31.5 | A Director may, or other Officer on the direction of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days’ notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. To any such notice of a meeting of the Directors all the provisions of the Articles relating to the giving of notices by the Company to the Members shall apply mutatis mutandis. |
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| 31.6 | The continuing Directors (or a sole continuing Director, as the case may be) may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to be equal to such fixed number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
| 31.7 | The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 31.8 | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director, and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, and/or had vacated their office and/or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and/or not disqualified to be a Director and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be. |
| 31.9 | A Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director. |
| 32 | Presumption of Assent |
A Director who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.
| 33 | Directors’ Interests |
| 33.1 | A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine. |
| 33.2 | A Director may act by himself or by, through or on behalf of his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director. |
| 33.3 | A Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company. |
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| 33.4 | No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. |
| 33.5 | A general notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
| 34 | Minutes |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording all appointments of Officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Directors, including the names of the Directors present at each meeting.
| 35 | Delegation of Directors’ Powers |
| 35.1 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committee consisting of one or more Directors (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee). Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such delegation may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
| 35.2 | The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees, local boards or agencies. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such appointment may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
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| 35.3 | The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
| 35.4 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time. |
| 35.5 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under the Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. |
| 35.6 | The Directors may appoint such Officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an Officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. An Officer may vacate his office at any time if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns his office. |
| 36 | No Minimum Shareholding |
The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director, but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares.
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| 37 | Remuneration of Directors |
| 37.1 | The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any Director by the Company prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The Directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company or the discharge of their duties as a Director, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
| 37.2 | The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel, attorney or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director. |
| 38 | Seal |
| 38.1 | The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some Officer or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose. |
| 38.2 | The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
| 38.3 | A Director or Officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever |
| 39 | Dividends, Distributions and Reserve |
| 39.1 | Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve to pay Dividends and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the Dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. A Dividend shall be deemed to be an interim Dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such Dividend specifically state that such Dividend shall be a final Dividend. No Dividend or other distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law. |
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| 39.2 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all Dividends and other distributions shall be paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly. |
| 39.3 | The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or other distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
| 39.4 | The Directors may resolve that any Dividend or other distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular (but without limitation) by the distribution of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees in such manner as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
| 39.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, Dividends and other distributions may be paid in any currency. The Directors may determine the basis of conversion for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met. |
| 39.6 | The Directors may, before resolving to pay any Dividend or other distribution, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the discretion of the Directors, be employed in the business of the Company. |
| 39.7 | Any Dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any Dividends, other distributions, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. |
| 39.8 | No Dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
| 39.9 | Any Dividend or other distribution which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the Dividend or other distribution shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any Dividend or other distribution which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
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| 40 | Capitalisation |
The Directors may at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts or funds (including the share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution; appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst such Members had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend or other distribution; and apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit in the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental or relating thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.
| 41 | Books of Account |
| 41.1 | The Directors shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices) to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions. |
| 41.2 | The Directors shall determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting. |
| 41.3 | The Directors may cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law. |
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| 42 | Audit |
| 42.1 | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
| 42.2 | Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
| 42.3 | If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
| 42.4 | The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
| 42.5 | If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
| 42.6 | Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
| 42.7 | Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
| 42.8 | Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the Directors, with any Director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval. |
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| 42.9 | The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO. |
| 42.10 | At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as determined by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The “audit committee financial expert” shall have such past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication. |
| 43 | Notices |
| 43.1 | Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Notice may also be served by Electronic Communication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Company’s Website. |
| 43.2 | Where a notice is sent by: |
| (a) | courier; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier; |
| (b) | post; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays in the Cayman Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted; |
| (c) | cable, telex or fax; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted; |
| (d) | e-mail or other Electronic Communication; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient; and |
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| (e) | placing it on the Company’s Website; service of the notice shall be deemed to have been effected one hour after the notice or document was placed on the Company’s Website. |
| 43.3 | A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under the Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
| 43.4 | Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner authorised by the Articles to every holder of Shares carrying an entitlement to receive such notice on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
| 44 | Winding Up |
| 44.1 | If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors’ claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up: |
| (a) | if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them; or |
| (b) | if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. |
| 44.2 | If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the approval of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other approval required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like approval, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like approval, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
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| 45 | Indemnity and Insurance |
| 45.1 | Every Director and Officer (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former Officer (each an Indemnified Person) shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. |
| 45.2 | The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person. |
| 45.3 | The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or Officer against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company. |
| 46 | Financial Year |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year.
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| 47 | Transfer by Way of Continuation |
| 47.1 | If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Class B Shares, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the closing of a Business Combination, holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on a transfer by way of continuation. |
| 47.2 | Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, Article 47.1 may only be amended by a Special Resolution which shall include the affirmative vote of a majority of two-thirds of the Class B Shares. |
| 48 | Mergers and Consolidations |
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.
| 49 | Business Combination |
| 49.1 | Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, this Article shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of the Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of a Business Combination and the full distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In the event of a conflict between this Article and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article shall prevail. |
| 49.2 | Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall either: |
| (a) | submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or |
| (b) | provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (net of Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then issued Public Shares. Such obligation to repurchase Shares is subject to the completion of the proposed Business Combination to which it relates. |
| 49.3 | If the Company initiates any tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file tender offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and file proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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| 49.4 | At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination. |
| 49.5 | Any Member holding Public Shares who is not the Co-Sponsors, a Founder, Officer or Director may, at least two Business Days prior to the scheduled vote on a Business Combination (the Election Deadline), elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided for in the related proxy materials (the IPO Redemption), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than 20 per cent of the Public Shares in the aggregate without the prior consent of the Company and provided further that any beneficial holder of Public Shares on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the board of directors may, at any time and either before or after the initially scheduled vote on a Business Combination, in its sole discretion extend the Election Deadline to a later date and may extend an Election Deadline which has already been extended. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business Combination, a per-Share redemption price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (net of Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then issued Public Shares (such redemption price being referred to herein as the Redemption Price), but only in the event that the applicable proposed Business Combination is approved and consummated. |
| 49.6 | A Member may not withdraw a Redemption Notice once submitted to the Company unless the Directors determine (in their sole discretion) to permit the withdrawal of such redemption request (which they may do in whole or in part). |
| 49.7 | In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the consummation of the IPO, or such earlier time as the Directors may approve in accordance with the Articles, the Company shall: |
| (a) | cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; |
| (b) | as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of Permitted Withdrawals and up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and |
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| (c) | as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the Directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of Applicable Law. |
| 49.8 | A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an IPO Redemption, a repurchase of Shares by means of a tender offer pursuant to this Article, or a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. |
| 49.9 | Except in connection with the conversion of Class B Shares into Class A Shares pursuant to Article 17 where the holders of such Shares have waived any right to receive funds from the Trust Account, after the issue of Public Shares, and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to: |
| (a) | receive funds from the Trust Account; or |
| (b) | vote as a class with Public Shares on a Business Combination. |
| 49.10 | A Director may vote in respect of a Business Combination in which such Director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such Director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other Directors. |
| 49.11 | In the event that any amendment is made to this Article not for the purposes of approving, or in conjunction with the consummation of, a Business Combination: |
| (a) | that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100 per cent of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination (i) within 18 months from the consummation of the IPO; or (ii) such later time as the Members may approve by special resolution amending the time period set out in these Articles; or |
| (b) | with respect to any other material provision relating to (i) the rights of holders of the Class A Shares; or (ii) the activity of the Company prior to a Business Combination, |
each holder of Public Shares who is not the Co-Sponsors, a Founder, Officer or Director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval or effectiveness of any such amendment at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of Permitted Withdrawals) divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue.
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| 49.12 | The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with the Co-Sponsors, a Founder, a Director or an Officer. In the event the Company seeks to consummate a Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Co-Sponsors, a Founder, a Director or an Officer, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another valuation or appraisal firm that regularly renders fairness opinions that such a Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. |
| 50 | Certain Tax Filings |
Each Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any Director shall designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9, 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may be approved from time to time by any Director or Officer. The Company further ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other person prior to the date of the Articles.
| 51 | Business Opportunities |
| 51.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no individual serving as a Director or an Officer (Management) shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for Management, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, Management shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, Director and/or Officer solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company. |
| 51.2 | Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and Management, about which a Director and/or Officer who is also a member of Management acquires knowledge. |
| 51.3 | To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
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| 52 | Exclusive Jurisdiction and Forum |
| 52.1 | Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the Memorandum, the Articles or otherwise related in any way to each Member’s shareholding in the Company, including but not limited to: |
| (a) | any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company; |
| (b) | any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any current or former Director, Officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Members; |
| (c) | any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Statute, the Memorandum or the Articles; or |
| (d) | any action asserting a claim against the Company governed by the “Internal Affairs Doctrine” (as such concept is recognised under the laws of the United States of America). |
| 52.2 | Each Member irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. |
| 52.3 | Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have, each Member acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly the Company shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum. |
| 52.4 | This Article 52 shall not apply to any action or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim. |
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Exhibit 4.1
NUMBER
U-
UNITS
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
CUSIP G2086N 113
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE AND ONE-HALF OF ONE REDEEMABLE WARRANT, EACH WARRANT ENTITLING THE HOLDER TO PURCHASE ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE
THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of .
Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (“ordinary shares”), of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and one-half (1/2) of one redeemable warrant (“Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) ordinary share (subject to adjustment) for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Each whole Warrant will become exercisable thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion of an acquisition, share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, contractual control arrangement or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (each a “Business Combination”), and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The ordinary shares and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate will begin separate trading on [•] unless BTIG, LLC elects to allow earlier separate trading, 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 its initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of [•], 2025, between the Company and Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant 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 Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 2155 Woodlane Drive Suite 100, Woodbury, MN 55125, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.
This
certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
Witness the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
| By: | ||
| Chief Executive Officer |
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
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 shares 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 | ||||
| (Cust) | (Minor) | |||||||
| TEN ENT | — | as tenants by the entireties | ||||||
| Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | ||||||||
| JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | ||||||
| (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. | |||
2
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)). |
In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [•], 2025, 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 its initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial Business Combination by a date calculated by reference to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association, (ii) the Company redeems the ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the ordinary shares if it does not consummate an initial Business Combination by a date calculated by reference to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective ordinary shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder 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.
3
Exhibit 4.2
NUMBER
CHENGHE
ACQUISITION III CO.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES
SEE
REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
This Certifies that is the owner of
CUSIP G2086N 105
FULLY
PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE
OF US$0.0001 EACH OF CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
(THE “COMPANY”)
subject to the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company and transferable on the register of members of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.
The Company will be forced to redeem all of its Class A ordinary shares if it is unable to complete a business combination by a date calculated by reference to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, all as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [●], 2025.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
| Dated: | |
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
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 | ||||||
| under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | ||||||||
| JT TEN | — | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | ||||||
| (State) | ||||||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
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 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 amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Company’s 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.
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For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE(S))
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))
represented by the within Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said shares on the register of members of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: |
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| 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:
| By | ||
| 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 RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED). | ||
In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [•], 2025, 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 its initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the Class A ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination by a date calculated by reference to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, (ii) the Company redeems the Class A ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A ordinary shares if it does not consummate an initial business combination by a date calculated by reference to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective Class A ordinary shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder 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 4.4
WARRANT AGREEMENT
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2025, is by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Minnesota, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent,” and also referred to herein as the “Transfer Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”) and one-half of one redeemable Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Public Units”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 5,500,000 warrants (or up to 6,325,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) is exercised in full) to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants”);
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into those certain Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements with Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Cayman Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Cayman Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 50,000 units (whether or not the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full), and Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Delaware Sponsor”) (collectively with Cayman Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”), pursuant to which the Delaware Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 215,000 private placement units (or 231,500 private placement units if the underwriters’ Over-allotment Option is exercised in full), for an aggregate of 265,000 private placement units purchased by the Co-Sponsors collectively (or 281,500 private placement units if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (the “Sponsor Private Placement Units”) each at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, and, in connection therewith, the issuance of up to 132,500 warrants (or up to 140,750 warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) underlying the Private Placement Units (the “Sponsor Private Placement Warrants”), which bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto;
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement with BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”) (the “Purchaser”) pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to purchase an aggregate of 110,000 units (or 126,500 units if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (the “Underwriter Private Placement Units,” collectively with the Sponsor Private Placement Units (the “Private Placement Units”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, and, in connection therewith, the issuance of up to 55,000 warrants (or up to 63,250 warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) underlying the Private Placement Units (the “Underwriter Private Placement Warrants,” collectively with the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants, the “Private Placement Warrants”), which bear the legend set forth in Exhibit C hereto;
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Cayman Sponsor or an affiliate of the Cayman Sponsor or the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 150,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit (the “Working Capital Units” and, together with the Public Units and the Private Placement Units, the “Units”), each consisting of one Ordinary Share and one-half of one redeemable warrant, and in connection with any issuance of Working Capital Units, the issuance of up to 75,000 warrants (the “Working Capital Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants and the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”);
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-288524 (the “Registration Statement”), and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants, the Ordinary Shares included in the Units and the Ordinary Shares underlying the Public Warrants;
WHEREAS, each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share for $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole Warrants are exercisable. A holder of the Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant;
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant 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 Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. |
| 2. | Warrants. |
| 2.1 | Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant 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. All of the Public Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more book-entry certificates (each, a “Book-Entry Warrant Certificate”). |
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| 2.2 | Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant certificate shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof. |
| 2.3 | Registration. |
| 2.3.1 | Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. All of the Public Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more Book-Entry Warrant Certificates deposited with The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of the Depositary. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (i) the Depositary or its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or (ii) institutions that have accounts with the Depositary (each such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”). |
If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificate”). Such Definitive Warrant Certificate shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as provided above.
| 2.3.2 | Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on a Definitive Warrant Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. |
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| 2.4 | Detachability of Warrants. The Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants comprising the Public Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of Cohen & Co. Capital Markets, as representatives of several underwriters, but in no event shall the Ordinary Shares and the Public Warrants comprising the Public Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units in the Offering (the “Over-allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin. The Private Placement Units shall be eligible to be separated into their component Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the Detachment Date. Holders of Warrants shall contact the Transfer Agent in order to effect such separation. |
| 2.5 | Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each of which is comprised of one Ordinary Share and one-half of one Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number of Warrants to be issued to such holder. |
| 2.6 | Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants. Subject to subsection 3.3.1(c) hereof, the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that until the date that is thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination (as defined below) the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants may not (including the Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants) be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders thereof, other than: |
| (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 Co-Sponsors or to any members of the Co-Sponsors or any of their affiliates, or any employees of the Co-Sponsors, any of its affiliates or any of their respective 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; |
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| (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 an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Warrants were originally purchased; |
| (f) | by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or our Co-Sponsors’ limited liability company agreements upon dissolution of our Co-Sponsors; |
| (g) | in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the consummation of a Business Combination; or |
| (h) | in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (f), these transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Co-Sponsors and the Company’s officers and directors. |
| 2.7 | Working Capital Warrants. Each of the Working Capital Warrants shall be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. |
| 2.8 | No Changes to Terms of Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any transfer, assignment or sale of the Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants, the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants, as the case may be, shall remain the same irrespective of the holder thereof. |
| 3. | Terms and Exercise of Warrants. |
| 3.1 | Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, including without limitation, subsection 3.3.5, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. |
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| 3.2 | Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), and terminating on the earlier to occur of: (i) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (ii) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time (the “Charter”) and (iii) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each outstanding Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants. |
| 3.3 | Exercise of Warrants. |
| 3.3.1 | Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, including without limitation, subsection 3.3.5, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) payment in full of the Warrant Price for each full Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares, as follows: |
| (a) | in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or by wire transfer of immediately available funds; |
| (b) | in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b), over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average closing price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof; |
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| (c) | with respect to any Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value,” as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c), over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported closing price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or |
| (d) | on a cashless basis, as provided in Section 7.4 hereof. |
| 3.3.2 | Issuance of Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 (a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. If fewer than all the Warrants evidenced by a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate are exercised, a notation shall be made to the records maintained by the Depositary, its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or a Participant, as appropriate, evidencing the balance of the Warrants remaining after such exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4 or a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the Ordinary Shares underlying such Unit. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. The Company may require holders of Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder. |
| 3.3.3 | Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 3.3.4 | Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Ordinary Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open. |
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| 3.3.5 | Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates) or any “group” of which Holder or its affiliates is a member, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify)(the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates, or any group of which such person and its affiliates is a member, shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates, or any group of which such person or its affiliates is a member, and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates, or any group of which such person or its affiliates is a member (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preference shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the applicable regulations of the Commission. For purposes hereof, “group” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable regulations of the Commission, and the percentage held by Holder shall be determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. To the extent that a holder makes the election described in this subsection 3.3.5, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant unless it provides to the Warrant Agent in its Election to Purchase, a certification that, upon after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates) or any “group” of which Holder or its affiliates is a member, would beneficially own in excess of the Maximum Percentage of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise as determined in accordance with this subsection 3.3.5. For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company. |
| 4. | Adjustments. |
| 4.1 | Share Capitalizations. |
| 4.1.1 | Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share capitalization payable in Ordinary Shares, or by a split-up of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, split-up or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering to holders of the Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a share capitalization of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering and divided by (y) the Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. |
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| 4.1.2 | Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the Ordinary Shares on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other of the Company’s share capital into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares included in the Units sold in the Offering if the Company does not complete the Business Combination within the period set forth in the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, or to provide for redemption in connection with a Business Combination or (e) in connection with the redemption of public Ordinary Shares included in the Units sold in the Offering upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering) |
| 4.2 | Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Ordinary Shares. |
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| 4.3 | Adjustments in Warrant Price. |
| 4.3.1 | Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter. |
| 4.3.2 | If (x) the Company issues additional Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Ordinary Share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board and, in the case of any such issuance to the initial shareholders (as defined in the Prospectus) or their affiliates, without taking into account any Class B Ordinary Shares (as defined below) or Private Placement Units (or securities underlying such Private Placement Units held by such shareholders or their affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance (the “Newly Issued Price”)), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for funding the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Ordinary Shares during the 10 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) of the Class A Ordinary Shares is below $9.20 per share, then the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the last sales price of the Ordinary Shares that triggers the Company’s right to redeem the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 below shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. |
| 4.4 | Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change under subsections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or conversion of the Company as another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation (and is not a subsidiary of another entity whose shareholders did not own all or substantially all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company in substantially the same proportions immediately before such transaction) and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is liquidated or dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”) If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 4.1 or Section 4.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2, Section 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant. |
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| 4.5 | Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event. |
| 4.6 | No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder. |
| 4.7 | Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of Ordinary Shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed. |
| 4.8 | Other Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion. For the avoidance of doubt, all adjustments made pursuant to this Section 4.8 shall be made equally to all outstanding Warrants. |
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| 4.9 | No Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the terms of the Warrants solely as a result of an adjustment to the conversion ratio of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”) into Ordinary Shares or the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares into Ordinary Shares, in each case, pursuant to the Charter. |
| 5. | Transfer and Exchange of Warrants. |
| 5.1 | Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, in the case of a certificated Warrant, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request. |
| 5.2 | Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided herein or in any Book-Entry Warrant Certificate or Definitive Warrant Certificate, each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate and Definitive Warrant Certificate may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided further, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend. |
| 5.3 | Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units. |
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| 5.4 | Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants. |
| 5.5 | Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose. |
| 5.6 | Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment Date. |
| 6. | Redemption. |
| 6.1 | Redemption of Warrants for Cash. All, but not less than all, of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price of $0.01 per Warrant; provided that the closing price of the Ordinary Shares reported has been at least $18.00 per share (the “Redemption Price”) (in each case subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period commencing once the Warrants become exercisable and ending on the third Business Day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given; provided further that there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.2 below), or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The Company may elect to redeem the Warrants even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Ordinary Shares under the applicable securities laws of the state of residence in those states in which the Public Warrants were offered in the Offering. |
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| 6.2 | Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (such period, the “Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. |
| 6.3 | Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of this Agreement, as applicable) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b), the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof) in such case. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price. |
| 6.4 | Exclusion of Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in this Section 6 shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants. |
| 7. | Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants. |
| 7.1 | No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant 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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| 7.2 | Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant 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 Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone. |
| 7.3 | Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement. |
| 7.4 | Registration of Ordinary Shares; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option. |
| 7.4.1 | Registration of the Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement registering, under the Securities Act, the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable 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 this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the 60th Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 61st Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average closing price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of cashless exercise is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the Ordinary Shares issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of any doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1. |
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| 7.4.2 | Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option. If the Ordinary Shares are at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule), the Company may, at its option, require holders to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) as described in subsection 7.4.1 and (i) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary or (ii) if the Company does not so elect, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify for sale the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under the blue sky laws of the state of residence of the exercising Warrant holder to the extent an exemption is not available. |
| 8. | Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters. |
| 8.1 | Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such Ordinary Shares. |
| 8.2 | Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent. |
| 8.2.1 | Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant 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 Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant 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 Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant 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 Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations. |
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| 8.2.2 | Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment. 8.2.3 Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act. |
| 8.3 | Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent. |
| 8.3.1 | Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder. |
| 8.3.2 | 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 Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement. |
| 8.4 | Liability of Warrant Agent. |
| 8.4.1 | Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant 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, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. |
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| 8.4.2 | Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except for any amounts arising out of, in connection with or resulting from the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or breach of this Agreement. |
| 8.4.3 | Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 8.5 | Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of the Warrants. |
| 8.6 | Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no 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 Warrant 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. The Warrant Agent hereby irrevocably waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account, including any monies therein or any distribution therefrom, and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account. |
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| 9. | Miscellaneous Provisions. |
| 9.1 | Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns. |
| 9.2 | Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant 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 (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows: |
Shibin
Wang
Chief Executive Officer
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant 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 (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:
Odyssey
Stock Transfer & Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive
Suite 100
Woodbury,
MN 55125
Attention: Caitlyn Van Valin
in each case, with copies to:
Paul
Hastings LLP
609 Main Street, Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Will Burns
Chris Centrich
Email: willburns@paulhastings.com
chriscentrich@paulhastings.com
And
Loeb
& Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New
York, NY 10154
Attention: Mitchell Nussbaum
Alexandria
Kane
Email: mnussbaum@loeb.com
akane@loeb.com
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| 9.3 | Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement, including under the Securities Act, 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 the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such 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 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 the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 9.3. 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 warrant holder, such warrant 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 warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder. |
| 9.4 | Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement 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 their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants. |
| 9.5 | Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent. |
| 9.6 | No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies. No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand. |
20
| 9.7 | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. |
| 9.8 | 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. |
| 9.9 | Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder (i) for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any mistake including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or 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, and (ii) to provide for the delivery of Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of a simple majority (more than 50.0%) of the number of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders. |
| 9.10 | 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]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| ODYSSEY TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Rebecca Paulson | |
| Title: | President | |
[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Warrant Certificate
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands
CUSIP G2086N121
Warrant Certificate
This Warrant Certificate certifies that ________________, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Warrant Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Warrant Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Share. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a Class A Ordinary Share, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
A-1
The initial Warrant Price per Class A Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Warrant Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
| CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| ODYSSEY TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
A-2
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive Class A Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of _______________, 2025 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Minnesota, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Warrant Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Class A Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement. In addition, and notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, to the extent that the holder of a Warrant has delivered a notice contemplated by subsection 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement, neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall issue to Holder, and Holder may not acquire, any right it might have to acquire, a number of Class A Ordinary Shares upon exercise of any Warrant to the extent that, upon such exercise, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares then beneficially owned by Holder would exceed the Maximum Percentage of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise as determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.5. of the Warrant Agreement.
A-3
The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.
A-4
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive _____ Class A Ordinary Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Class A Ordinary Shares to the order of Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) in the amount of $_____________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Class A Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of _____________, whose address is _____________ and that such Class A Ordinary Shares be delivered to ______________ whose address is _______________. If said number of Class A Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Class A Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Class A Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of ___________________, whose address is _______________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to _______________, whose address is _______________.
In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Class A Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Class A Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Class A Ordinary Shares. If said number of Class A Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Class A Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Class A Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of ________________, whose address is ________________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to ________________, whose address is ________________.
By signing this Election to Purchase, the undersigned hereby certifies that such election will not result in the undersigned beneficially owning Ordinary Shares in excess of the 4.9% or 9.8% Cap (where applicable) outlined in Section 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement.
To be included in any Election to Purchase of a holder who has provided the notice set forth in subsection 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement.
By signing this Election to Purchase, the undersigned hereby certifies that upon after giving effect to such exercise, the undersigned (together with such person’s affiliates) or any “group” of which holder or its affiliates is a member, would not beneficially own in excess of the Maximum Percentage of the Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise as determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
A-5
| Date: . 20 | |
| Signature | |
| (Address) | |
| (Tax Identification Number) |
Signature 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 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).
A-6
EXHIBIT B
SPONSOR PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS LEGEND
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. (THE “COMPANY”), CHENGHE INVESTMENT III LIMITED AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”
B-1
EXHIBIT C
UNDERWRITER PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS LEGEND
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. (THE “COMPANY”), CHENGHE INVESTMENT III LIMITED AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”
C-1
Exhibit 5.1
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | D +852 3656 6054 | |
| 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay | ||
| Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 | E nathan.powell@ogier.com | |
| Cayman Islands | ||
| Reference: NMP/JTC/511783.00001 | ||
| 25 July 2025 |
Dear Sirs
Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the Company)
We have been requested to provide you with an opinion on matters of Cayman Islands law in relation to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), as amended (including its exhibits, the Registration Statement) related to the offering and sale of (the Offering):
| (i) | 11,000,000 units (each a Unit, and together, the Units), with each Unit consisting of (a) one Class A ordinary share of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 each (the Class A Ordinary Shares) and (b) one half of one redeemable warrant (the Warrant), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share; |
| (ii) | up to 1,650,000 Units (the Over-Allotment Units) which several underwriters, for whom BTIG, LLC, is acting as representative, will have a right to purchase from the Company to cover over-allotments, if any; |
| (iii) | all Class A Ordinary Shares and all Warrants issued as part of the Units and the Over-Allotment Units; and |
| (iv) | all Class A Ordinary Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units and the Over-Allotment Units. |
This opinion is given in accordance with the terms of the legal matters section of the Registration Statement.
A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this opinion and the headings herein are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this opinion.
| Ogier | |||
| Providing advice on British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Guernsey laws |
|||
| Floor 11 Central Tower 28 Queen's Road Central Central Hong Kong |
Partners Nicholas Plowman Nathan Powell Anthony Oakes Oliver Payne |
Cecilia Li Rachel Huang** Yuki Yan** Florence Chan*‡ |
|
| Kate Hodson | Richard Bennett**‡ | ||
| T +852 3656 6000 F +852 3656 6001 ogier.com |
David Nelson Justin Davis Joanne Collett Dennis Li |
James Bergstrom‡ | * admitted in New Zealand ** admitted in England and Wales ‡ not ordinarily resident in Hong Kong |
| 1 | Documents examined |
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the corporate and other documents and conducted the searches listed in Schedule 1. We have not made any searches or enquiries concerning, and have not examined any documents entered into by or affecting the Company or any other person, save for the searches, enquiries and examinations expressly referred to in Schedule 1.
| 2 | Assumptions |
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set forth in Schedule 2 without having carried out any independent investigation or verification in respect of those assumptions.
| 3 | Opinions |
On the basis of the examinations and assumptions referred to above and subject to the qualifications set forth in Schedule 3 and the limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
Corporate status
| (a) | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands (the Registrar of Companies). |
Corporate power
| (b) | The Company has all requisite power under its Memorandum and Articles of Association (each as defined in Schedule 1) to issue the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents (as defined in Schedule 1), to execute and deliver the Documents (as defined in Schedule 1) and to perform its obligations, and exercise its rights, under such documents. |
Corporate authorisation
| (c) | The Company has taken all requisite corporate action to authorise: |
| (i) | the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents); and |
| (ii) | the execution and delivery of the Documents and the performance of its obligations, and the exercise of its rights, under such Documents. |
2
Class A Ordinary Shares
| (d) | The Class A Ordinary Shares to be offered and issued by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents), when issued by the Company upon: |
| (i) | payment in full of the consideration as set out in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms set out in the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents), the terms of the Warrant Documents and the Underwriting Agreement (as defined in Schedule 1) and in accordance with the then effective memorandum and articles of association of the Company; and |
| (ii) | the entry of those Class A Ordinary Shares as fully paid on the register of members of the Company, |
shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
No litigation revealed
| (e) | Based solely on our investigation of the Register of Writs and Other Originating Process (Register of Writs), no litigation was pending in the Cayman Islands against the Company, nor had any petition been presented or order made for the winding up of or the appointment of a restructuring officer to the Company, as of the close of business on the business day in the Cayman Islands before our inspection. |
| 4 | Matters not covered |
We offer no opinion:
| (a) | as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction, and we express no opinion as to the meaning, validity, or effect of references in the Documents to statutes, rules, regulations, codes or judicial authority of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | except to the extent that this opinion expressly provides otherwise, as to the commercial terms of, or the validity, enforceability or effect of the documents reviewed (or as to how the commercial terms of such documents reflect the intentions of the parties), the accuracy of representations, the fulfilment of warranties or conditions, the occurrence of events of default or terminating events or the existence of any conflicts or inconsistencies among the documents and any other agreements into which the Company may have entered or any other documents; or |
| (c) | as to whether the acceptance, execution or performance of the Company’s obligations under the documents reviewed by us will result in the breach of or infringe any other agreement, deed or document (other than the Memorandum and Articles of Association) entered into by or binding on the Company. |
3
| 5 | Governing law of this opinion |
| 5.1 | This opinion is: |
| (a) | governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | limited to the matters expressly stated in it; and |
| (c) | confined to, and given on the basis of, the laws and practice in the Cayman Islands at the date of this opinion. |
| 5.2 | Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to any specific Cayman Islands legislation is a reference to that legislation as amended to, and as in force at, the date of this opinion. |
| 6 | Who can rely on this opinion |
| 6.1 | We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and also consent to the reference to this firm in the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters”. In the giving of our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder. |
Yours faithfully
/s/ Ogier
Ogier
4
SCHEDULE 1
List of Documents Examined
| 1 | The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated 4 June 2024 issued by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands. |
| 2 | The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted pursuant to a special resolution passed on 5 December 2024 (the Memorandum and Articles of Association). |
| 3 | The form of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company to be effective immediately upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement. |
| 4 | A certificate of good standing dated 24 July 2025 issued by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in respect of the Company (the Good Standing Certificate). |
| 5 | The written resolutions of the directors of the Company dated 30 June 2025 (the Board Resolutions). |
| 6 | The register of members of the Company as provided to us on 22 July 2025 (the Register of Members) |
| 7 | The register of directors and officers of the Company as provided to us on 24 July 2025 (the Register of Directors, and together with the Register of Members, the Statutory Books). |
| 8 | A certificate from a director of the Company dated 24 July 2025 as to certain matters of fact (the Director's Certificate). |
| 9 | The Register of Writs maintained by the office of the Clerk of Courts in the Cayman Islands as inspected by us on 24 July 2025. |
| 10 | The Registration Statement. |
| 11 | A draft of the form of the unit certificate representing the Units and the Over-Allotment Units (the Unit Certificates). |
| 12 | A draft specimen certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares (the Share Certificates). |
| 13 | A draft of the form of the underwriting agreement (the Underwriting Agreement). |
| 14 | A draft of the form of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate constituting the Warrants (the Warrant Documents and, together with the Unit Certificates, the Share Certificates, and the Underwriting Agreement, the Documents). |
5
SCHEDULE 2
Assumptions
Assumptions of general application
| 1 | All original documents examined by us are authentic and complete. |
| 2 | All copy documents examined by us (whether in facsimile, electronic or other form) conform to the originals and those originals are authentic and complete. |
| 3 | All signatures, seals, dates, stamps and markings (whether on original or copy documents) are genuine. |
| 4 | Each of the Good Standing Certificate, the Director's Certificate and the Statutory Books is accurate and complete as at the date of this opinion. |
| 5 | The Documents have been or will be duly executed by all parties in materially the form as exhibited to the Registration Statement and in respect of the Company, in the manner authorised in the Board Resolutions. |
Status, authorisation and execution
| 6 | Each of the parties to the Documents other than the Company is duly incorporated, formed or organised (as applicable), validly existing and in good standing under all relevant laws. |
| 7 | Each Document has been or will be duly authorised, executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all parties to it in accordance with all applicable laws (other than, in the case of the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands) prior to the Offering. |
| 8 | In authorising the execution and delivery of the Documents by the Company, the exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations under the Documents, each of the directors of the Company has acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and has exercised the standard of care, diligence and skill that is required of him or her. |
| 9 | Each Document has been or will be duly executed and unconditionally delivered by the Company in the manner authorised in the Board Resolutions. |
6
Enforceability
| 10 | None of the opinions expressed herein will be adversely affected by the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. In particular, but without limitation to the previous sentence: |
| (a) | the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands will not adversely affect the capacity or authority of the Company; and |
| (b) | neither the execution or delivery of the Documents nor the exercise by any party of its rights or the performance of its obligations under the Documents contravene those laws or public policies. |
| 11 | There are no agreements, documents or arrangements (other than the documents expressly referred to in this opinion as having been examined by us) that materially affect or modify the Documents or the transactions contemplated by them or restrict the powers and authority of the Company in any way. |
| 12 | None of the transactions contemplated by the Documents relate to any partnership interests, shares, voting rights in a Cayman Islands company, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, foundation company, exempted limited partnership, or any other person that may be prescribed in regulations from time to time (a Legal Person) or to the ultimate effective control over the management of a Legal Person (the Relevant Interests) that are subject to a restrictions notice issued pursuant to the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (a Restrictions Notice). |
Share issuance
| 13 | The Class A Ordinary Shares will be issued at an issue price in excess of the par value thereof and will be entered on the register of members of the Company as fully paid. |
Register of Writs
| 14 | The Register of Writs constitutes a complete and accurate record of the proceedings affecting the Company before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands as at the time we conducted our investigation of such register. |
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SCHEDULE 3
Qualifications
Good Standing
| 1 | Under the Companies Act, annual returns in respect of the Company must be filed with the Registrar of Companies, together with payment of annual filing fees. A failure to file annual returns and pay annual filing fees may result in the Company being struck off the Register of Companies, following which its assets will vest in the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands and will be subject to disposition or retention for the benefit of the public of the Cayman Islands. |
| 2 | In good standing means only that as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate the Company is up-to-date with the filing of its annual returns and payment of annual fees with the Registrar of Companies. We have made no enquiries into the Company's good standing with respect to any filings or payment of fees, or both, that it may be required to make under the laws of the Cayman Islands other than the Companies Act. |
Register of Writs
| 3 | Our examination of the Register of Writs cannot conclusively reveal whether or not there is: |
| (a) | any current or pending litigation in the Cayman Islands against the Company; or |
| (b) | any application for the winding up or dissolution of the Company or the appointment of any liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy or restructuring officer in respect of the Company or any of its assets, |
as notice of these matters might not be entered on the Register of Writs immediately or updated expeditiously or the court file associated with the matter or the matter itself may not be publicly available (for example, due to sealing orders having been made). Furthermore, we have not conducted a search of the summary court. Claims in the summary court are limited to a maximum of CI $20,000.
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Exhibit 5.2

July 25, 2025
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore 189767
| Re: | Chenghe Acquisition III Co. Registration Statement on Form S-1 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as United States counsel to Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-288524) of the Company, initially filed with the Commission on July 3, 2025 (as amended through the date hereof, the “Registration Statement”), including a related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”) relating to the proposed underwritten public offering of up to 11,000,000 units of the Company (the “Units”) (which includes up to 1,650,000 Units that may be issued and sold pursuant to the exercise of an over-allotment option described in the Registration Statement), with each Unit consisting of:
(i) one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “Class A Ordinary Share,” and the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Units, the “Shares”); and
(ii) one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share, to be issued under a Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and Odyssey Trust Company, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”),
pursuant to the terms of an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be executed by the Company and BTIG, LLC as representative of the several underwriters named therein (collectively the “Underwriters”).
This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the form of Underwriting Agreement, the form of Warrant Agreement, the form of Unit Certificate, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement (the “Unit Certificate”), and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below. In addition to the foregoing, we have examined and relied upon the accuracy of the opinion letter of Ogier, Cayman Islands counsel for the Company, dated the date hereof and filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Ogier Opinion”) and made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.


Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
July 25, 2025
Page 2
In such examination and in rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification: (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (ii) the legal capacity, competency and authority of all persons or entities executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (iii) the authenticity and completeness of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as originals; (iv) that all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as certified, electronic, facsimile, conformed, photostatic or other copies conform to the originals thereof, and that such originals are authentic and complete; (v) other than the Company and to the extent that New York Law applies, all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties thereto; (vi) that no documents submitted to us have been amended or terminated orally or in writing; (vii) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion letter are true and correct on and as of the date hereof; (viii) that the Company is a validly existing entity in the jurisdiction of its organization, in good standing in each applicable jurisdiction and has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and that such execution, delivery and performance does not violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation (or equivalent formation document) of the Company; (ix) other than the Company and to the extent that New York Law applies, that the Underwriting Agreement is the valid and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms; (x) all documents filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been executed will conform to the forms thereof; (xi) that at or prior to the time of the delivery of any Units, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Units and such authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded; (xii) the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded and (xiii) the Warrant Agreement to be entered into in connection with the Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, and is a valid, binding and enforceable agreement of each party thereto.
We have also assumed, in reliance on the Ogier Opinion, that (i) the Company is incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands; (ii) the Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under the certificates evidencing the Units and under the Warrants; and (iii) the certificates evidencing the Units and the Warrants to which the Company is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As to all questions of fact material to this opinion letter and as to the materiality of any fact or other matter referred to herein, we have relied (without independent investigation or verification) upon representations and certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company.
Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. When the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the respective parties thereto and the Units have been duly issued by the Company and executed by Odyssey Trust Company, as transfer agent, as contemplated by the Registration Statement and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally including, without limitation, fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance laws; (ii) public policy considerations, statutes or court decisions that may limit rights to obtain exculpation, indemnification or contribution (including, without limitation, indemnification regarding violations of the securities laws and indemnification for losses resulting from a judgment for the payment of any amount other than in United States dollars); and (iii) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) and the availability of equitable remedies (including, without limitation, specific performance and equitable relief), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.


Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
July 25, 2025
Page 3
2. When the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the respective parties thereto, the Units have been validly issued, paid for and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, and the Warrants have been duly executed by the Company and duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally including, without limitation, fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance laws; (ii) public policy considerations, statutes or court decisions that may limit rights to obtain exculpation, indemnification or contribution (including, without limitation, indemnification regarding violations of the securities laws and indemnification for losses resulting from a judgment for the payment of any amount other than in United States dollars); and (iii) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) and the availability of equitable remedies (including, without limitation, specific performance and equitable relief), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
Without limiting any of the other limitations, exceptions, assumptions and qualifications stated elsewhere herein, we express no opinion with regard to the applicability or effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York as in effect on the date hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state antifraud law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, we express no opinion herein as to any federal laws of the United States of America, as to any foreign law or regulation, as to the effect or lack of effect of any foreign law or regulation on any opinion expressed herein or as to the validity or enforceability of the certificates evidencing the Units or the Warrants under (including, without limitation, the exercise of remedies thereunder) the laws of any foreign jurisdiction. We have not acted as counsel for the Company with respect to matters of Cayman Islands law, or other applicable foreign law. For the avoidance of doubt, we express no opinion herein as to any foreign law or regulation or as to the effect or lack of effect of any foreign law or regulation on any opinion expressed herein.
This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues expressly addressed herein, and you should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly stated herein from any matter addressed in this opinion letter. This opinion letter is rendered solely in connection with the offering of the Units. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person with regard to any change after the date hereof in the circumstances or the law that may bear on the matters set forth herein even if the change may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion or other matters in this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
| |
/s/ Paul Hastings LLP |

Exhibit 10.1
[●], 2025
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
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 Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and BTIG, LLC, as the representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 12,650,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 1,650,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”) entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus (as defined below). 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 Company has applied to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”). 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 Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Cayman Sponsor”), and Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Delaware Sponsor”) (collectively with Cayman Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”), and the undersigned individuals, each of whom is, or will be, a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each of the undersigned individuals, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. [Reserved].
2. Business Combination Support. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree with the Company that if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such shareholder approval. If the Company seeks to consummate a proposed Business Combination by engaging in a tender offer, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree that it, he or she will not sell or tender any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection therewith.
3. Failure to Consummate a Business Combination; Trust Account Waiver.
(a) The Co-Sponsors and each Insider hereby agree with the Company that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Charter”), the Co-Sponsors 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 (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Class A Ordinary Shares 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, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes (excluding U.S. federal excise tax) (“Permitted Withdrawals”) 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 Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject, in each case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
(b) The Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree not to propose any amendment to the Charter (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within (i) 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering or (ii) such other time period in which the Company must consummate an initial business combination pursuant to an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides its Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares in connection with any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (net of Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
(c) The Co-Sponsors acknowledge and agree that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, it hereby waives its right to be repaid from the Trust Account for any working capital loans in excess of the Permitted Withdrawals to such date, that it or its affiliates or designees have provided to the Company.
(d) The Co-Sponsors 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 any Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider hereby further waive, with respect to any Founder Shares and Offering Shares held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or 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 (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (although the Co-Sponsors and the Insiders 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). The Co-Sponsors and each Insider further waive any claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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4. [reserved]
5. Lock-Up; Transfer Restrictions.
The Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer:
(a) any Founder Shares (the “Founder Shares Lock-up”) until the earlier of (i) six months after the completion of an initial Business Combination or earlier if, subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing any time after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) the date following the completion of the initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”); being acknowledged that the terms under this Section 5(a) are subject to negotiations in connections with the Company’s initial Business Combination among the parties thereto; and
(b) any Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units, and the respective Class A Ordinary Shares underlying such units and warrants, until 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (the “Units Lock-up Period,” and together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).
(c) During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, Transfer any Units, Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units (or the Ordinary Shares underlying such units and warrants), or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Ordinary Shares (but excluding Units, Ordinary Shares or Public Warrants purchased in the Public Offering or thereafter) held by it, her or him, as applicable.
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(d) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Sections 5(a), 5(b) or 5(c) above, Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, Private Placement Units or Ordinary Shares underlying such warrants that are held by the Co-Sponsors, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 3(d)), 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 Company’s Co-Sponsors or to any member of a Co-sponsor, any of their affiliates or any employees of the Co-Sponsors, any of its affiliates or any of their respective 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 the 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 the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Founder Shares or Private Placement Warrants (as well as the Ordinary Shares underlying such warrants), as applicable, were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or our Co-sponsors’ limited liability company agreements upon dissolution of our Co-Sponsors; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of its initial Business Combination; or (h) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the 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 agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions.
6. Indemnification. 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 Co-Sponsors (the “Indemnitors”), which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Co-Sponsors, or any of the other undersigned, 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, (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”) or (iii) any taxing authority; provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Indemnitors (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, in each case, net of Permitted Withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses, (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. In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Indemnitors shall not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Indemnitors 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 Indemnitors, the Indemnitors notify the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.
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7. Forfeiture of Founder Shares. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,650,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Co-Sponsors agree to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares equal to 550,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 1,650,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of its over-allotment option, if any, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,650,000. 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, on an as-converted basis, an aggregate of approximately 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Public Offering. The Initial Shareholders further agree that to the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will purchase or sell Class B Ordinary Shares 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 number of Founder Shares, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 1,650,000 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 Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 550,000 in the formula set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Co-Sponsors would have to surrender to the Company in order for the number of Founder Shares to be equal, on an as-converted basis, to an aggregate of approximately 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Public Offering.
8. Remedies. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider hereby agree and acknowledges that: (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such co-sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 2, 3, and 5, 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.
9. Representations and Warranties.
(a) The Co-Sponsors 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. For each Insider who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company, such Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all material respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background. For each Insider who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company, such Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The Co-Sponsors 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.
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(b) The Company, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider, with respect to itself, herself or himself, represent and warrant that it, she or he has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it, he or she 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.
10. [Reserved].
11. Definitions. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Ordinary Shares” shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”); (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 4,216,667 Class B Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding (up to 550,000 of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Co-Sponsors if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters); (iv) “Initial Shareholders” shall mean the Co-Sponsors and any Insider that holds Founder Shares; (v) “Private Placement Units” shall mean the 375,000 units (or up to 408,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus, that the Co-Sponsors and certain underwriters have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $3,750,000 (or up to $4,080,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering that are identical to the units sold in the Public Offering; (vi) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants sold as part of the Private Placement Units; (vii) “Working Capital Units” shall mean the Private Placement-equivalent units that may be issued in connection with the conversion of any working capital loans; (viii) “Working Capital Warrants” shall mean the warrants underlying such Working Capital Units; (ix) “Public Shareholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (x) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust account into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units shall be deposited; and (xi) “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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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).
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12. Director and Officer Liability Insurance. The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and each Insider who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available pursuant to such policy or policies for any of the Company’s directors or officers.
13. Entire Agreement. 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 (i) each Insider that is the subject of any such change, amendment, modification or waiver, (ii) the Co-Sponsors, and (iii) the Company.
14. Assignment. 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 Company, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.
15. Third-Party Rights. Except as provided for in paragraph 6, 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. Except as provided for in paragraph 6, 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. Counterparts. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or other 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.
17. Severability. 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. Governing Law. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 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. Notices. 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 or facsimile or e-mail transmission.
20. Effect of Headings. The paragraph headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Letter Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
21. Termination. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods and (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 and closed by [•], 2026; provided further that paragraphs 3 and 6 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such termination.
[Signature Page Follows]
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| Sincerely, | ||
| Chenghe Investment III Limited | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Richard Li | |
| Title: | ||
| Chenghe Investment III LLC | ||
| By: | Chenghe Investment III Limited | |
| Its Managing Member | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Richard Li | |
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Qingjian Wang | |
| Title: | Independent Director Nominee | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | Kwan Sun | |
| Title: | Independent Director Nominee | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | Ningrong Liu | |
| Title: | Independent Director Nominee | |
| Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
| CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | Lyle Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | Houston Li | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [●], 2025, by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company, a Minnesota corporation (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-288524) (the “Registration Statement”), and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share (each, an “Ordinary Share”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with BTIG, LLC as the underwriter (the “Underwriter”) named therein; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $110,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $126,500,000 if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee located in the United States at Citibank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) Promptly upon receipt of written instruction of the Company, (i) invest and reinvest the Property, initially solely in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, (ii) hold the Property as uninvested cash or (iii) hold the Property in an interest-bearing bank demand deposit account or other accounts at a bank, in each case as determined by the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and while invested or uninvested, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration;
(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 Underwriter of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account or in connection with the preparation or completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s auditors;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and 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, jointly signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer or other authorized officer of the Company and, in the case of Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Underwriter, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn in accordance with this Agreement and net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses, it being understood that the Trustee has no obligation to monitor or question the Company’s position that an allocation has been made for taxes payable), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein , or (y) upon the date which is the later of (A) eighteen (18) months after the closing of the Offering, and (B) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as it may be amended from time to time, 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 funds held in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn in accordance with this Agreement and net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date;
(j) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any franchise or income tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, further, however, that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the franchise tax bill for the Company and a written statement from the principal financial officer of the Company setting forth the actual amount payable (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
(k) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem Ordinary Shares from Public Shareholders properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”) or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within eighteen (18) months from the closing of the Offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and
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(m) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j), (k) or (l) above.
2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by a Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Section 1(i), 1(j), 1(k) and 1(l) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all reasonable and documented expenses, including reasonable outside counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence. 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 may obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further that the Company may conduct and manage the defense against any Indemnified Claim if the Trustee does not promptly take reasonable steps to mount such a defense. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, 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 Section 1(i) hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee upon receipt of an invoice from the Trustee. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c) and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the shareholder meeting verifying the vote of such shareholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Underwriter 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.
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;
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(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence;
(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 reasonably incurred 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, or its representatives’, willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee with written notification to the Company, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(i) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or
(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j), 1(k) and 1(l) 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 (whether following the Trustee giving notice that it desires to resign under this Agreement or the Company otherwise electing to replace the Trustee under this Agreement), the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever;
(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b); or
(c) If the Offering is not consummated within ten (10) business days of the date of this Agreement, in which case any funds received by the Trustee from the Company, Chenghe Investment III Limited (“Sponsor”) for purposes of funding the Trust Account shall be promptly returned to the Company or Sponsor, as applicable.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s or its representatives’ gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or out-of-pocket expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
(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 conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i), 1(j), 1(k), 1(l) and 1(m) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty five percent (65%) of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote sought to amend this Agreement), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
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(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery, by electronic mail or by facsimile transmission:
if to the Trustee, to:
Odyssey
Transfer and Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125
Attn: Client Services
Email: clientsus@odysseytrust.com
if to the Company, to:
c/o Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
Attn: Lyle Wang
Email: lyle.wang@chenghecap.com
in each case, with copies to:
Paul Hastings LLP
609 Main Street, Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77002
Attn: Will Burns
Email: willburns@paulhastings.com
and
BTIG, LLC
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
Attn: [·]
Email: [·]
and
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Ave
New York, New York
Attn: Mitchell Nussbaum
Email: mnussbaum@loeb.com
(f) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.
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(g) This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(h) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(i) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that BTIG, LLC is a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(j) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the other party.
(k) The Trustee will not have any liability for failure to perform or delay in performing duties set forth herein if the failure or delay is due to an event of force majeure. An event of force majeure is an event or condition beyond the Trustee’s control including, but not limited to acts of God, natural disaster, civil unrest, state of war, fire, extended power failure, acts of terrorism, or similar events beyond the Trustee’s control. The Trustee will make reasonable efforts to minimize performance delays or disruptions in the event of such occurrences.
[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.
| Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company, as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]
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SCHEDULE A
Fee Schedule
| Trust Agreement – one-time acceptance fee | Waived | |
| Annual administrative fee | $6,500 | |
| Disbursement/withdrawal processing fee (per payment) | $200 | |
| Shareholder redemption processing fee (per redemption) | $250 | |
| Liquidation of the trust | $10,000 | |
| Asset management fee | As Negotiated | |
| Out of pocket expenses | As Incurred |
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EXHIBIT A
[●]
[Insert date]
Odyssey
Transfer and Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125
Attn: Client Services
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Dear [●]:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [●] (the “Target Business”) to consummate a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with the Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter time period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and to transfer the proceeds into the trust operating account to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account awaiting distribution, neither the Company nor the Representative will earn any interest.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated substantially, 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) an affidavit or a certificate by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders, if a vote is held and (b) joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice as soon thereafter as possible.
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| Very truly yours, | |||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| BTIG, LLC | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
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EXHIBIT B
[●]
[Insert date]
Odyssey
Transfer and Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125
Attn: Client Services
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Dear [●]:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with a Target Business (the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds into the trust operating account to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [●] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement.
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| Very truly yours, | |||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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EXHIBIT C
[●]
[Insert date]
Odyssey
Transfer and Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125
Attn: Client Services
Re: Trust Account - Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction
Dear [●]:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[●] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
| Very truly yours, | |||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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EXHIBIT D
[●]
[Insert date]
Odyssey
Transfer and Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125
Attn: Client Services
Re: Trust Account - Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
Dear [●]:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Shareholders on behalf of the Company $[●] of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Shareholders who have properly elected to have their Ordinary Shares redeemed by the Company in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the redeeming Public Shareholders in accordance with your customary procedures.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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EXHIBIT E
[●]
[Insert date]
Odyssey
Transfer and Trust Company
2155 Woodlane Drive, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125
Attn: Client Services
Re: Trust Account - Permitted Withdrawal Instruction
Dear [●]:
Pursuant to Section 1(l) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[●] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to fund its working capital requirements. For the current year ending [●], $[●] has been disbursed to date (including the amounts requested hereunder) pursuant to Section 1(l) of the Trust Agreement. 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, | |||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of , 2025, is made and entered into by and among Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Cayman Sponsor”), Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Delaware Sponsor”) (collectively with Cayman Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”), BTIG, LLC, as the representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters in the Company’s initial public offering, and each of the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under “Holders” (each such party, together with the Co-Sponsors and Representative 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 4,216,667 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”), issued and outstanding, up to 550,000 of which will be surrendered to the Company for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering exercise their over-allotment option;
WHEREAS, the Founder Shares are convertible into Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company and the Co-Sponsors entered into those certain Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements (the “Sponsor Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Co-Sponsors agreed to purchase an aggregate of up to 281,500 Units (including up to 16,500 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Sponsor Private Placement Units”) (the description of which and the adjustments of whose numbers are as detailed in the Sponsor Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company and the Representative entered into that certain Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Representative Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement,” together with the Sponsor Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements, the “Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Representative agreed to purchase an aggregate of up to 126,500 Units (including up to 16,500 units which may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Representative Private Placement Units”) (the description of which and the adjustments of whose numbers are as detailed in the Representative Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement) (together with the Sponsor Private Placement Units, the “Private Placement Units”) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public 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 Cayman Sponsor, its affiliates or any of the Company’s officers and directors may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into an additional 150,000 units (“Working Capital Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Working Capital Unit at the option of the lender, each consisting of one ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the latter, a “Working Capital Warrant”);
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, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Co-Sponsors” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
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“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“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 Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion thereof.
“Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean the earlier of six months after completion of our initial business combination; or if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing any time after completion of our initial business combination.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Co-Sponsors and each of the Company’s officers and directors.
“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 case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Ordinary Shares” 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 or any other lock-up period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter, the Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements, 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 Shares” shall mean the Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the Private Placement Units.
“Private Placement Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
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“Private Placement Warrants” shall mean warrants sold as part of the Private Placement Units.
“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.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares, (b) the Private Placement Units, Private Placement Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, (c) any outstanding Ordinary Shares or any other equity security (including the Ordinary Shares 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, (d) any Working Capital Units, Working Capital Shares, Working Capital Warrants and Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of the Working Capital Warrants, and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such Ordinary Share by way of a share capitalization or share 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 Ordinary Shares are 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);
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(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.
“Representative Private Placement Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Representative Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“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 Private Placement Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreements” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“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 Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Working Capital Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Working Capital Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
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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 a majority of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (collectively, 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 Holder(s) and Requesting Holder(s) pursuant to such Demand Registration, including by filing a Registration Statement relating thereto as soon as practicable. 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 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.
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.
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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 Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other shareholders 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; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares 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 shareholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee share option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall 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 Ordinary Shares that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Ordinary Shares, 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 Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders 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 Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
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(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 Ordinary Shares 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 respective 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 Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares 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.
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.
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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 five (5) 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to effect or permit any Registration or cause any Registration Statement to become effective, with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Holder, until after the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Representative and/or its permitted designees may not exercise their Demand Registration and Piggyback Registration rights beyond five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, from the commencement of sales of the Company’s initial public offering and may not exercise their Demand Registration rights on more than one (1) occasion.
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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;
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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 or warrant 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;
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 Underwriters 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, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, 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;
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3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, 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 Underwriters 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 Underwriters 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.
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, Underwriters’ 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.
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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.
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 Ordinary Shares 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 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings and Limitations on Registration Rights. 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.
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.
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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.
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: Chenghe Acquisition III Co., 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore, 189767, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with copy to: Paul Hastings LLP, 609 Main Street, Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77002, Attention: Will Burns and Chris Centrich, 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.
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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 Prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement 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. After the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, the Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in while or in part, to any transferee.
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.
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.
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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 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. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
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 capital shares 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 tenth 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:
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.,
a Cayman Islands exempted company
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
HOLDERS:
CHENGHE INVESTMENT III LIMITED,
a Cayman Islands limited liability company
Chenghe Investment III LLC
| By: | Chenghe Investment III Limited Its Managing Member | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
BTIG, LLC
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.5
FORM OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of this day of _____, 2025, by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore, 189767 and (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell on a private placement basis (the “Offering”) an aggregate of Units (the “Initial Units”) of the Company, each Initial Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase one Class A ordinary share (the “Warrant Shares”) to be governed by the Warrant Agreement (defined herein), for a purchase price of , or $10.00 per Initial Unit, and up to units (“Additional Units” and together with the Initial Units, the “Units”), each Additional Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one Warrant, for a purchase price of , or $10.00 per Additional Unit.
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase the Units on the terms and conditions set forth herein and the Company wishes to accept such subscription.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1 Agreement to Subscribe
1.1 Purchase and Issuance of the Initial Units. For the aggregate sum of (the “Initial Purchase Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) Initial Units at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase up to an additional Additional Units at $10.00 per Additional Unit for a purchase price of (the “Additional Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The purchase and issuance of the Additional Units shall occur only in the event that the underwriters’ 45-day over-allotment option (“Over-Allotment Option”) in the Offering is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is exercised. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.2 Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the Offering shall take place at the offices of Paul Hastings LLP, 609 Main Street, Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77002, simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) and the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option (each a “Closing Date”).
1.3 Delivery of the Purchase Price. At least one business day prior to the effective date of the Company’s registration statement relating to the IPO (“Registration Statement”), or the date of the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, if any, the Purchaser agrees to deliver the Initial Purchase Price or Additional Purchase Price, as the case may be, by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars to Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Minnesota (“Odyssey”), which is hereby irrevocably authorized to deposit such funds on the applicable Closing Date to the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders, managed pursuant to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and Odyssey and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the IPO will be deposited (the “Trust Account”). If the IPO is not consummated within 14 days of the date the Initial Purchase Price is delivered to Odyssey, the Initial Purchase Price shall be returned to the Purchaser by certified bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in United States Dollars, without interest or deduction.
1.4 Delivery of Unit Certificate. Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive a unit certificate representing the Units purchased hereunder.
2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser
The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. It understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, or the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Units (excluding the Warrant Shares, the “Unit Shares” and, collectively with the Units, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares, the “Securities”).
2.2 Organization. It is a company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3 Private Offering. It is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or it is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. It acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “Accredited Investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and similar exemptions under state law or a non-U.S. Person under Regulation S.
2.4 Authority. This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
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2.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
2.6 No Legal Advice from Company. It acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, it is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
2.7 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, it has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. It understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.8 Reliance on Representations and Warranties. It understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9 No Advertisements. It is not subscribing for the Units as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting.
2.10 Legend. It acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Securities shall bear a restrictive legend (the “Legend”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities, except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and such laws which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, is available.
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2.11 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. It is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of his investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests.
2.12 Investment Purposes. It is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and it has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity.
2.13 Restrictions on Transfer. It acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. It agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, it agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination (defined below) of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
3 Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:
3.1 Valid Issuance of Share Capital. The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 each, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 each and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of $0.0001 each. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 4,216,667 Class B ordinary shares (of which 550,000 Class B ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement) to the Company’s co-sponsors. On June 30, 2025, Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company, forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Chenghe Investment III Limited. On June 30, 2025, Chenghe Investment III Limited transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Chenghe Investment III Limited holding 2,364,667 founder shares, and Chenghe Investment III LLC holding 1,852,000 founder shares. As of the date hereof, no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
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3.2 Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the warrant agreement to be entered into with Odyssey on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Warrant Agreement”) and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (as applicable), as the case may be, each of the Securities will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. On the date of issuance of the Units, the Warrant Shares shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Warrant Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and pursuant to the insider letter to be entered into on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Insider Letter”) and (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws.
3.3 Organization and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a Cayman Islands exempted company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4 Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Warrants and Warrant Agreement, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.
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4 Legends
4.1 Legend. The Company will issue the Units, the Warrants and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Warrant Shares purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. The Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
THESE SECURITIES (i) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) PURSUANT TO THE RESALE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN RULE 905 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. AND AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH THEREIN.”
4.2 Purchaser’s Compliance. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3 Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities. The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
4.4 Registration Rights. The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
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5 Lockup
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Securities shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until thirty (30) days after the consummation of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), except to permitted transferees (as defined in the Insider Letter).
6 Securities Laws Restrictions
The Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction complies with the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
7 Waiver of Distributions from Trust Account
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions from the Trust Account.
8 Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification
8.1 Rescission Waiver. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “Claims”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
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8.2 No Recourse Against Trust Account. The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future.
8.3 Section 8 Waiver. The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
9 Terms of the Unit
The Units shall be substantially identical to the Units offered in the IPO as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, except the Units: (i) will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein, and (ii) are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act.
10 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
11 Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
11.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3 Amendment. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4 Binding upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
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12 Notices; Indemnity
12.1 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth herein or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, or (c) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, or (iii) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
12.2 Indemnification. Subject to Section 8, each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13 Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14 Survival; Severability
14.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
14.2 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
15 Headings
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16 Construction
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
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This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Accepted and agreed this | |
| ______ day of ______, 2025 |
| Purchaser | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
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Exhibit 10.6
FORM OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Private Placement Unit Purchase Subscription Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of this day of , 2025, by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 38 Beach Road #29-11, South Beach Tower, Singapore 189767, and BTIG, LLC (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell to the Purchaser on a private placement basis (the “Offering”) an aggregate of 110,000 Units (the “Initial Units”) of the Company, each Initial Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase one Class A ordinary share (the “Warrant Shares”) to be governed by the Warrant Agreement (defined herein), for a purchase price of $1,100,000, or $10.00 per Initial Unit, and up to 16,500 units (“Additional Units” and together with the Initial Units, the “Units”), each Additional Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one Warrant, for a purchase price of $165,000, or $10.00 per Additional Unit.
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desire to purchase the Units on the terms and conditions set forth herein and the Company wishes to accept such subscription.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Subscribe.
1.1 Purchase and Issuance of the Initial Units. For the aggregate sum of $1,100,000 (the “Initial Purchase Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) an aggregate of 110,000 Initial Units at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase up to an aggregate of additional 16,500 Additional Units at $10.00 per Additional Unit for a purchase price of $165,000 (the “Additional Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The purchase and issuance of the Additional Units shall occur only in the event that the underwriters’ 45-day over-allotment option (“Over-Allotment Option”) in the Offering is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is exercised. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.2 Closing
. The closing (the “Closing”) of the Offering shall take place at the offices of Paul Hastings LLP 609 Main Street, Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77002, simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) and the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option (each a “Closing Date”).
1.3 Delivery of Unit Certificate. Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive a unit certificate representing the Units purchased hereunder.
1.4 Termination. This Agreement and each of the obligations of the undersigned shall be null and void and without effect if the Closing does not occur prior to [•], 2026.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.
The Purchaser hereby, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. It understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, or the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Units (excluding the Warrant Shares, the “Unit Shares” and, collectively with the Units, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares, the “Securities”).
2.2 Organization. It is a company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3 Private Offering. It is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or it is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. It acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “Accredited Investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and similar exemptions under state law or a non-U.S. Person under Regulation S.
2.4 Authority. This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
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2.6 No Legal Advice from Company. It acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, it is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
2.7 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, it has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. It understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.8 Reliance on Representations and Warranties. It understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9 No Advertisements. It is not subscribing for the Units as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting.
2.10 Legend. It acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Securities shall bear a restrictive legend (the “Legend”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities, except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and such laws which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, is available.
2.11 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. It is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of his investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests.
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2.12 Investment Purposes. It is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and it has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity. Purchaser shall not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Securities unless in compliance with the Securities Act.
2.13 Restrictions on Transfer. It acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. It agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, it agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination (defined below) of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:
3.1 Valid Issuance of Share Capital. The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 4,216,667 Class B ordinary shares (of which 550,000 Class B ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement) to the Company’s co-sponsors. On June 30, 2025, Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands Limited liability company, forfeited for no consideration 95,833 Class B ordinary shares, resulting in 4,216,667 founder shares held by Chenghe Investment III Limited. On June 30, 2025, Chenghe Investment III Limited transferred 1,852,000 founder shares to Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for $11,112, or $0.006 per share, resulting in Chenghe Investment III Limited holding 2,364,667 founder shares, and Chenghe Investment III LLC holding 1,852,000 founder shares. As of the date hereof, no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
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3.2 Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the warrant agreement to be entered into with Odyssey Stock Transfer & Trust Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Warrant Agreement”) and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (as applicable), as the case may be, each of the Securities will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. On the date of issuance of the Units, the Warrant Shares shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and the payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Warrant Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and pursuant to the insider letter to be entered into on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Insider Letter”) and (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws.
3.3 Organization and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a Cayman Islands exempted company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4 Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Warrants and Warrant Agreement, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.
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4. Legends.
4.1 Legend. The Company will issue the Units, the Warrants and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Warrant Shares purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. The Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
THESE SECURITIES (i) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) PURSUANT TO THE RESALE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN RULE 905 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THESE SECURITIES ARE DEEMED UNDERWRITERS’ COMPENSATION BY THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (“FINRA”) AND ARE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA RULE 5110.
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. AND BTIG, LLC AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH THEREIN.”
4.2 Purchaser’s Compliance. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3 Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities. The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and (iii) in compliance herewith.
4.4 Registration Rights. The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
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5. Lockup.
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Securities shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until thirty (30) days after the consummation of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), except (a) to the Company’s or the Purchaser’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s or the Purchaser’s officers or directors, any members or partners of the Purchaser or any affiliates of such members and funds and accounts advised by such members, any affiliates of the Purchaser, or any employees of such affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of one of the individual’s immediate family, any estate planning vehicle or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’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 the 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 the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Units were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Purchaser’s organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of the Purchaser; (g) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination, or (h) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of an initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (g) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Units and the related registration rights will be deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and will therefore, pursuant to Rule 5110(e) of the FINRA Manual, be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in the Public Offering, subject to certain limited exceptions to permitted transferees hereunder and in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)(B). The Securities and the related registration rights may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in the Public Offering.
6. Securities Laws Restrictions.
The Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction complies with the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
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7. Waiver of Redemption Rights.
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all redemption rights (i) in connection with the Company’s completion of the Business Combination, (ii) upon the Company’s failure to complete the Business Combination within 18 months from the completion of the IPO or the liquidation of the Company prior to the expiration of such 18 month period or (iii) if the Company seeks an amendment to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares (as defined below). In the event the Purchaser purchases Ordinary Shares in the IPO or in the aftermarket (“Public Shares”), the Purchaser shall be eligible to redeem any Public Shares upon the same terms offered to all other holders of Ordinary Shares purchased in the IPO.
8. Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification.
8.1 Rescission Waiver. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “Claims”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.2 No Recourse Against Trust Account. The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future, provided that nothing herein shall preclude Purchaser from making any Claim or seeking recourse against the funds held outside of the Trust Account or seeking payment of any deferred underwriting fee due and payable pursuant to the underwriting agreement for the IPO.
8.3 Section 8 Waiver. The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
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9. Terms of the Unit.
The Units shall be substantially identical to the Units offered in the IPO as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, except the Units: (i) will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein, and (ii) are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act.
10. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
11. Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment.
11.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3 Amendment. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4 Binding upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
12. Notices; Indemnity.
12.1 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth herein or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, or (c) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, or (iii) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
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12.2 Indemnification. Subject to Section 8, each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14. Survival; Severability.
14.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
14.2 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
15. Headings.
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16. Construction.
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Accepted and agreed this | ||
| day of , 2025 | ||
| Purchaser | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
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Exhibit 10.8
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
[ ], 2025
Chenghe Investment III Limited
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
| Re: | Administrative Services Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) and Chenghe Investment III Limited (the “Cayman 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 and 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 Cayman Sponsor shall make available, or cause to be made available, to the Company, office space, administrative and shared personnel support services and other services as may be reasonably required by the Company. In exchange therefor, the Company shall pay the Cayman Sponsor up to $15,000 per month on the Listing Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date.
2. The Cayman 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 shareholders 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.
3. 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.
4. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.
5. 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.
6. 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, without regards to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
Very truly yours,
| CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
| Chenghe Investment III Limited | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]
Exhibit 10.9
FORM OF INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [ ], 2025, by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and [ ] (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held companies 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 companies;
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 (as defined below) 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, while the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company provide for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company, Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable Cayman Islands law, and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association 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 of directors, 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 shareholders 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 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company 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 without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity, and 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 he or she be so indemnified.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY. In consideration of the Company’s covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders his or her 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, as provided in Section 17. 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) References to “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 company, 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) The terms “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) “Cayman Court” shall mean the courts of the Cayman Islands.
(d) A “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 Shares by Third Party. Other than an affiliate of Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Cayman Sponsor”), Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and co-sponsor (the “Delaware Sponsor”) (collectively with Cayman Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”), 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;
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(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 shareholders 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, share exchange, asset acquisition, share 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 50% 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 company 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) 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 Co-Sponsors, no Person (excluding any company resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 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 company 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 company 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;
(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the shareholders 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 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.
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(e) “Companies Law” shall mean the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time.
(f) “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.
(g) “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.
(h) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other company, corporation, constituent company or 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, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
(i) “Exchange Act” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(j) “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 the 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, supersedes 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.
(k) References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan.
(l) References to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or a Subsidiary 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.
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(m) “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation 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.
(n) The term “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 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 shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares 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 shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.
(o) The term “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 him or her or of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, 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.
(p) The term “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.
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3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she 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 his or her conduct was unlawful.
4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 him or her on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she 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 Cayman 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.
5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27, 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 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her 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 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her 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 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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.
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6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her 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, he or she shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.
7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS.
(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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, 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, 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(a) on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders 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.
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(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.
9. EXCLUSIONS. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity or advancement provision and which payment has not subsequently been returned, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise;
(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f) and 14(g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.
10. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9.
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(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, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.
11. 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 12(a) of this Agreement.
12. 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, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) if no Change of 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 such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (z) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if such 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 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(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 him or her 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 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Cayman 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 Cayman 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 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(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.
13. 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 11(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.
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(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 or the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company; 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.
(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 he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her 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, manager, or officers 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, 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, 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 13(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.
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14. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 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 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(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 12(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 Cayman Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Cayman Islands 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 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 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 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated 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, 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 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 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).
(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(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 14, 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.
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(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company 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 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association 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 New York 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.
15. SECURITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, 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.
16. 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association, any agreement, a vote of shareholders 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 his or her 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association 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 Companies Law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association 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 him or her or incurred by or on behalf of him or her or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the Companies Law, 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, including with respect to any insurance. The Indemnitee 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. No such payment by the Company shall be deemed to relieve any insurer of its obligations.
(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 27, (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.
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(f) To the extent Indemnitee has rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by the Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates (other than the Company) as applicable, (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., that its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Cayman Sponsor or its respective affiliates, as applicable, to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) the Company shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and reasonable expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement, the Company’s organizational documents or other agreement, without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Co-Sponsors or its affiliates, as applicable, and (iii) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Cayman Sponsor and its affiliates, as applicable, from any and all claims against them for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. No advancement or payment by the Cayman Sponsor or its affiliates, as applicable, on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing, and the Cayman Sponsor and its affiliates, as applicable, shall have a right of contribution and be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company.
17. 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 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his or her Corporate Status, whether or not he or she 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.
18. 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company; (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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19. 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company 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 his or her 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.
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(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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 he or she may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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, Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company.
20. 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.
21. 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, 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:
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
38 Beach Road #29-11
South Beach Tower
Singapore 189767
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to
Paul Hastings LLP
609 Main Street, Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002
Attn: Will Burns
Chris Centrich
Email: willburns@paulhastings.com
chriscentrich@paulhastings.com
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
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22. 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 New York, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 Cayman 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 Cayman 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 Cayman Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Cayman 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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 21 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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 applicable law and the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company, 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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27. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT. Indemnitee hereby agrees that he or she 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 he or she may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, Indemnitee acknowledges and agrees that any indemnification provided hereto will only be able to be satisfied by the Company if (i) the Company has sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account to satisfy its obligations hereunder or (ii) the Company consummates an initial business combination.
28. 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.
29. INTERPRETATION
In this Agreement:
(a) words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person;
(b) “written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record;
(c) “shall” shall be construed as imperative and “may” shall be construed as permissive;
(d) references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re- enacted or replaced;
(e) any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;
(f) the term “and/or” is used herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires);
(g) headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing this Agreement;
(h) any requirements as to delivery under this Agreement include delivery in the form of an electronic record (as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised));
(i) any requirements as to execution or signature under this Agreement including the execution of this Agreement itself can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature (as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised));
(j) sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) shall not apply.
[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.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| INDEMNITEE | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | [ ] | ||
| Title: | [ ] | ||
[Signature page - Indemnity Agreement]
Exhibit 10.10
STRUCTURING SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Structuring Services Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of , 2025, by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co., (the “Company”) and CBC Securities Inc., (the “Co-Manager”), which is serving as a co-managing underwriter in the Company’s initial public offering of 11,000,000 units (the “IPO”) pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement between the Company and BTIG, LLC, dated as of , 2025.
R E C I T A L S
A. The Co-Manager has provided certain structuring services to the Company in connection with the IPO.
B. The Company agrees to pay the Co-Manager a fee of $50,000.00 (the “Structuring Fee”) for providing the aforementioned services to the Company.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the parties’ mutual covenants and obligations herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. In consideration of payment of the Structuring Fee, the Co-Manager has provided certain services related to the structuring of the Company’s IPO.
2. As payment for the aforementioned services, the Company hereby agrees to pay the Structuring Fee to the Co-Manager upon consummation of the IPO.
3. This Agreement shall be governed by and constructed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. This Agreement may be amended, in writing, by the affirmative agreement of all of parties hereto.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto executed this Agreement as of the date set forth above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| Chenghe Acquisition III Co. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Shibin Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| SERVICE PROVIDER: | ||
| CBC Securities, Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Exhibit 14
FORM OF CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
OF
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
| 1. | Introduction |
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), has adopted this code of ethics (this “Code”), as may be amended from time to time by the Board and which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) to:
| ● | promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| ● | promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company; |
| ● | promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| ● | deter wrongdoing; and |
| ● | require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code. |
This Code may be amended and modified by the Board. In this Code, references to the “Company” mean Chenghe Acquisition III Co. and, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.
| 2. | Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct |
Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination of principle are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain and advantage.
Each person must:
| ● | act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or when in the Company’s interests; |
| ● | observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
| ● | comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data; |
| ● | adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices; |
| ● | deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees; |
| ● | refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice; |
| ● | protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use; |
| ● | Until the earliest of (i) the Company’s initial business combination (as such is defined in the Company’s initial registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)), (ii) liquidation, or (iii) such time as such person ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, to (i) first present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any business opportunity suitable for the Company and presented to such person solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, subject to any other fiduciary or contractual obligations such officer may have; (ii) use corporate property, information or position for personal gain and (iii) compete with the Company; and |
| ● | Avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except as may be allowed under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board (or the appropriate committee of the Board) or as disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC. Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict for a member of his or her immediate family or any other close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following: |
| ● | 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. |
| 3. | Disclosure |
The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC and other public communications shall be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:
| ● | not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent registered public accountants, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and |
| ● | in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness. |
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In addition to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.
Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Chairman of the Board any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.
| 4. | Compliance |
It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. All directors, officers and employees of the Company are expected to understand, respect and comply with all of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures that apply to them in their positions with the Company. Employees are responsible for talking to their supervisors to determine which laws, regulations and Company policies apply to their position and what training is necessary to understand and comply with such laws and regulations. Directors, officers and employees are directed to specific policies and procedures available to persons they supervise.
| 5. | Reporting and Accountability |
The Board is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairman of the Board promptly. Failure to do so is, in and of itself, a breach of this Code.
Specifically, each person must:
| ● | Notify the Chairman of the Board promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code. |
| ● | 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 the Code:
| ● | The Board will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it. |
| ● | 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. |
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No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion suspension, threat, harassment or in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.
| 6. | Waivers and Amendments |
Any waiver (defined below) or an implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and 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 a website, in the event that it establishes one in the future, and if it keeps such information on the website for at least 12 months and discloses the website address as well as any intention to provide such disclosures in this manner in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
A “waiver” means the approval by the Board of a material departure from a provision of the 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 the Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.
All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.
| 7. | Insider Information and Securities Trading |
The Company’s directors, officers or employees who have access to material, non-public information are not permitted to use that information for securities trading purposes or for any purpose unrelated to the Company’s business. It is also against the law to trade or to “tip” others who might make an investment decision based on inside company information. For example, using non-public information to buy or sell the Company securities or the shares of any Company supplier, customer or competitor is prohibited. The consequences of insider trading violations can be severe. These rules also apply to the use of material, nonpublic information about other companies (including, for example, the Company’s customers, competitors and potential business partners). In addition to directors, officers or employees, these rules apply to such person’s spouse, children, parents and siblings, as well as any other family members living in such person’s home.
| 8. | Financial Statements and Other Records |
All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation.
Records should always be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Board or the Company’s internal or external legal counsel.
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| 9. | Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits |
No director or officer, or any other person acting under the direction thereof, shall directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence any public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements of the Company or take any action that such person knows or should know that if successful could result in rendering the Company’s financial statements materially misleading. Any person who believes such improper influence is being exerted should report such action to such person’s supervisor, or if that is impractical under the circumstances, to any of the Company’s directors.
Types of conduct that could constitute improper influence include, but are not limited to, directly or indirectly:
| ● | Offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, including future employment or contracts for non-audit services; |
| ● | Providing an auditor with an inaccurate or misleading legal analysis; |
| ● | Threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the Company’s accounting; |
| ● | Seeking to have a partner removed from the audit engagement because the partner objects to the Company’s accounting; |
| ● | Blackmailing; and |
| ● | Making physical threats. |
| 10. | Anti-Corruption Laws |
The Company complies with the anti-corruption laws of the countries in which it does business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). 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.
| 11. | Violations |
Violation of this Code is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.
| 12. | Other Policies and Procedures |
Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.
| 13. | Inquiries |
All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Company’s Secretary, or such other compliance officer as shall be designated from time to time by the Company.
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PROVISIONS FOR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
The CEO and all senior financial officers, including the CFO and principal accounting officer, are bound by the provisions set forth therein relating to ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, and compliance with law. In addition to the Code, the CEO and senior financial officers are subject to the following additional specific policies:
1. Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts between personal, private interests and the interests of the Company, including receiving improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
2. Disclose to the CEO and the Board any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest.
3. Perform responsibilities with a view to causing periodic reports and documents filed with or submitted to the SEC and all other public communications made by the Company to contain information that is accurate, complete, fair, objective, relevant, timely and understandable, including full review of all annual and quarterly reports.
4. Comply with laws applicable to the Company, including but not limited to rules and regulations of U.S. federal, state and other local governments and with the rules and regulations of private and public regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the Company.
5. Act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting or omitting material facts or allowing independent judgment to be compromised or subordinated.
6. Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of performance of his or her responsibilities except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose any such information; not use confidential information acquired in the course of performing his or her responsibilities for personal advantage.
7. Share knowledge and maintain skills important and relevant to the needs of the Company, its shareholders and other constituencies and the general public.
8. Proactively promote ethical behavior among subordinates and peers in his or her work environment and community.
9. Use and control all corporate assets and resources employed by or entrusted to him or her in a responsible manner.
10. Not use corporate information, corporate assets, corporate opportunities or his or her position with the Company for personal gain; not compete directly or indirectly with the Company.
11. Comply in all respects with this Code.
12. Advance the Company’s legitimate interests when the opportunity arises.
The Board will investigate any reported violations and will oversee an appropriate response, including corrective action and preventative measures. Any officer who violates this Code will face appropriate, case specific disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
Any request for a waiver of any provision of this Code must be in writing and addressed to the Chairman of the Board.
Any waiver of this Code will be disclosed as provided in Section 6 of this Code.
It is the policy of the Company that each officer covered by this Code shall acknowledge and certify to the foregoing annually and file a copy of such certification with the Chairman of the Board.
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OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION
I have read and understand the foregoing Code. I hereby certify that I am in compliance with the foregoing Code and I will comply with the Code in the future. I understand that any violation of the Code will subject me to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
Dated:
Name:
Title:
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Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report dated January 31, 2025, relating to the financial statements of Chenghe Acquisition III Co. as of December 31, 2024 and for the period from June 4, 2024 (inception) to December 31, 2024. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Audit Alliance LLP
Singapore
July 25, 2025
Exhibit 99.1
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
| I. | Purpose |
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), shall provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations to oversee:
(a) the integrity of the financial statements and other financial information provided by the Company to its stockholders, the public, any stock exchange and others;
(b) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
(c) the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;
(d) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors; the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company, and
(e) such other matters as are assigned to the Committee by the Board pursuant to this Charter or as mandated under applicable laws, rules and regulations (including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as well as listing standards of Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) (together, the “Applicable Requirements”).
Although the Committee has the powers and responsibilities set forth in this Charter, the role of the Committee is oversight. The members of the Committee are not full-time employees of the Company and may or may not be accountants or auditors by profession or experts in the fields of accounting or auditing and, in any event, do not serve in such capacity.
Consequently, it is not the duty of the Committee to conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and other Applicable Requirements. These are the responsibilities of management and the Company’s independent auditor.
| II. | Organization |
The Committee shall consist of three or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the independence, financial literacy, and other qualifications required by the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, Section 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Requirements, subject to any phase-in periods or cure periods permitted by Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A) under the Exchange Act and other Applicable Requirements. At least one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” (as defined by the SEC). Determinations of independence, financial literacy, experience and expertise shall be made by the Board as the Board interprets such qualifications in its business judgment.
Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Members of the Committee may be removed at any time by action of the Board; provided, however, that if removing a member or members of the Committee would cause the Committee to have fewer than three members, then the Board must, based upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, at the same time appoint enough additional members to the Committee so that the Committee will have at least three qualified members. The Committee’s chairperson shall be designated by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee or, if not so designated, the members of the Committee shall elect a chairperson by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees from time to time as it sees fit, provided that the subcommittees are composed entirely of directors who satisfy the applicable independence requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and the Applicable Requirements.
| III. | Meetings |
The Committee shall meet at least four times per year on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as required. Meetings shall be called by the chairperson of the Committee or, if there is no chairperson, by a majority of the members of the Committee. Meetings may be held telephonically or by other electronic means to the extent permitted by the Company’s organizational documents and applicable law. Committee actions may be taken by unanimous written consent.
The Committee shall also meet periodically with management, the chief internal auditor and the Company’s independent auditor in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the Committee or each of these groups believe should be discussed privately.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of its meetings and records relating to those meetings.
| IV. | Authority and Responsibilities |
In fulfilling its duties and responsibilities hereunder, the Committee will be entitled to rely reasonably on (a) the integrity of those persons within the Company and the professionals and experts (such as the Company’s independent auditor) from whom it receives information, (b) the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Committee by such persons and (c) representations made by the Company’s independent auditor as to any services provided by such firm to the Company.
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To fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee shall:
With respect to the engagement of the Company’s independent and other auditors:
1. Be directly responsible for (a) the appointment, compensation, retention (including termination), scope and oversight of the work of any independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company (including for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services or other work for the Company), and (b) the resolution of any disagreements between management and any such firm regarding financial reporting.
2. Have the sole authority to review in advance, and pre-approve (which may be pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures) all audit or non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent or other auditors as permitted by Section 10A of the Exchange Act and to approve all related fees and other terms of engagement. The Committee shall review and discuss with the independent auditors all relationships the auditors have with the Company in order to evaluate their continued independence. The Committee shall also review and approve disclosures required to be included by the Company in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to audit and non-audit services.
3. At least annually, obtain and review a formal written report from the Company’s independent auditor (a) describing such firm’s internal quality control procedures, (b) describing any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, peer review or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) review or inspection of such firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by such firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and (c) assessing such firm’s independence, including delineating all relationships and engagements that may reasonably be thought to bear on the independence of the auditor, including those between the auditor and the Company. The Committee shall discuss this report with the Company’s independent auditor and shall take appropriate action to ensure the independence of the independent auditor and to address any other matters based on such report.
4. Confirm that the “lead partner,” the “concurring partner” and the other “audit partner” rotation requirements under the Applicable Requirements, including Regulation S-X have been complied with and set clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
5. Review all reports and communications required to be submitted by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Committee under Section 10A of the Exchange Act and other Applicable Requirements.
6. At least annually, evaluate the performance of the Company’s independent auditor, including the lead audit partner. In making its evaluation, the Committee should take into account the opinions of management and the internal audit group.
7. Review and discuss with the Company’s independent auditor all relationships the auditor has with the Company and evaluate the auditor’s continued independence.
8. Review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the Company’s independent auditor.
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With respect to the Company’s financial statements and other financial reporting:
9. Review and discuss the Company’s annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements with management (including the Company’s internal audit group) and the Company’s independent auditor, including disclosures made in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” to be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
10. Recommend to the Board whether the Company’s annual audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s annual report for filing with the SEC and timely prepare the report required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, if applicable, and any other reports of the Committee required by any Applicable Requirement.
11. Review and discuss with management and the Company’s independent auditor (a) major issues regarding, or significant changes in, the Company’s accounting principles and financial statement presentations, (b) analyses prepared by management or the Company’s independent auditor concerning significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (c) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company, and (d) the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases and any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
12. Prior to the filing of any audited financial statements with the SEC, review with management and the Company’s independent auditor (a) all critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company, (b) all alternative accounting treatments of financial information reported in GAAP related to material items that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of such alternative treatments and disclosures and the treatment preferred by the Company’s independent auditor, (c) any reports or communications (and management’s responses thereto) submitted to the Committee by the Company’s independent auditor in accordance with PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended or supplemented, and (d) any other material written communications between the Company’s independent auditor and management.
13. Periodically review separately with each of management, the Company’s independent auditor and the internal audit group (a) any significant disagreement between management and the Company’s independent auditor or the internal audit group in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (b) any audit problems or difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information, and (c) management’s response to each. The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditor material issues on which the national office of the independent auditor was consulted by the Company’s audit team.
14. Periodically discuss with the Company’s independent auditor, without management being present, (a) their judgment about the quality, integrity and appropriateness of the Company’s accounting principles and financial disclosure practices as applied in its financial reporting and (b) the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements.
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15. Review and discuss with management the Company’s earnings press releases, including the use of non-GAAP financial measures and other “pro forma” or “adjusted” presentations, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. Such discussions may be general (consisting of discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made), and each earnings release or each instance in which the Company provides earnings guidance need not be discussed in advance.
16. Review and discuss with management all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons.
17. Review and approve the Company’s decision to enter into swaps and other derivatives transactions that are exempt from exchange-execution and clearing under “end-user exception” regulations established by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and review and approve the Company’s policies governing the Company’s use of swaps and other derivatives transactions subject to the end- user exception.
18. Review and discuss with management and the internal audit group the Company’s major financial risk exposures and management’s risk assessment and risk management policies.
With respect to the internal audit function and internal controls:
19. Review, based on the recommendation of the Company’s independent auditor and the person responsible for the Company’s internal audit group, the scope and plan of the work to be done by the internal audit group and the responsibilities, budget, audit plan, activities, organizational structure and staffing of the internal audit group as needed.
20. Receive reports from the internal audit group on the status of significant findings and recommendations, and management’s responses.
21. Review on an annual basis the performance of the internal audit group.
22. In consultation with the Company’s management, independent auditor and the internal audit group, review the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, disclosure processes and its procedures designed to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.
23. Review, at least annually, (a) the internal control report prepared by management, including management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and (b) the Company’s independent auditor’s attestation, and report, on the assessment made by management, in each case, as and when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Discuss with management, the internal audit group and the independent auditor any changes in internal control over financial reporting disclosed or considered for disclosure in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC.
24. Review with management and the Company’s independent auditor any reports or disclosure submitted by management to the Committee as contemplated by the certifications required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
25. Review with management any management letters and the steps management intends to take to address the issues raised by those letters.
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With respect to the Company’s compliance programs:
26. Monitor compliance with the Company’s Code of Ethics, and oversee, review and discuss with management, at least annually, the implementation and effectiveness of the Company’s compliance and ethics programs. Review and take appropriate action with respect to any reports to the Committee from legal counsel for the Company concerning any material violation of securities law or breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company, its subsidiaries or any person acting on their behalf. As appropriate, the Committee shall report and make recommendations to the Board with respect to these matters.
27. Establish procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company whose financial information is included in the Company’s financial statements of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
28. Review and approve (a) any amendment to or waiver from the Company’s code of ethics for the chief executive officer and senior financial officers and (b) any public disclosure made regarding such change or waiver and advise the Board with respect to the Company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
29. Develop and recommend to the Board for approval policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K, as may be amended from time to time, and any other applicable requirements (the “Related Person Transactions Policy”). Review the Related Person Transactions Policy at least annually and recommend to the Board for approval any changes to the Policy. Oversee the implementation of and compliance with the Related Person Transactions Policy, including reviewing, approving or ratifying related person transactions, as appropriate pursuant to the Related Person Transaction Policy.
30. Review with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
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With respect to the Committee’s other authorities and responsibilities:
31. Review and assess annually its own performance and the adequacy of this Charter and recommend to the Board any changes to this Charter deemed appropriate by the Committee.
32. Report regularly to the Board.
33. Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s organizational documents, as required under the Applicable Requirements or as the Committee or the Board otherwise deems necessary or appropriate.
| V. | Resources |
The Committee shall have the authority to retain or terminate, at its sole discretion, independent legal, accounting and other advisors, consultants or professionals (collectively, “Advisors”) to assist the Committee in its responsibilities and shall be directly responsible for overseeing the work of such Advisors. The chairperson of the Committee, at the request of any member of the Committee, may request any officer, employee or advisor of the Company or the Company’s independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee or otherwise respond to Committee requests.
The Committee shall have the sole authority to determine the terms of engagement and the extent of funding necessary (and to be provided by the Company) for payment of (a) compensation to the Company’s independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (b) any compensation to any Advisors retained to advise the Committee and (c) ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
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Exhibit 99.2
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
| I. | Purpose |
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), shall have responsibility for the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), and for incentive compensation, equity-based and pension plans as further provided in this Charter.
| II. | Organization |
The Committee shall consist of two or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the applicable independence and other compensation committee membership requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and any other applicable regulatory requirements subject to any exceptions or cure periods that are applicable pursuant to the foregoing requirements and the phase-in periods permitted under the Nasdaq rules under which the Committee is required to have only one independent member by the earlier of the date the initial public offering closes or five business days from listing, a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing and all independent members within one year of listing.
At least one member of the Committee shall have experience in matters relating to executive compensation either as a professional or as a business executive. At least two members shall qualify as (a) “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27 (“Outside Directors”), and (b) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (“Non-Employee Directors”).
Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee and may be removed by the Board at any time; provided, however, that if removing a member or members of the Committee would cause the Committee to have fewer than two members, then the Board must, based upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, at the same time appoint an additional member to the Committee so that the Committee will have at least two members who qualifies as an (a) Outside Directors and (b) Non-Employee Directors. The Committee’s chairperson shall be designated by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee or, if not so designated, the members of the Committee shall elect a chairperson by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees from time to time as it sees fit, provided that the subcommittees are composed entirely of directors who satisfy the applicable independence requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and Nasdaq.
| III. | Meetings |
The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Meetings shall be called by the chairperson of the Committee or, if there is no chairperson, by a majority of the members of the Committee. Meetings may be held telephonically or by other electronic means to the extent permitted by the Company’s organizational documents and applicable law. Committee actions may be taken by unanimous written consent.
| IV. | Authority and Responsibilities |
To fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee shall:
| 1. | Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s compensation strategy to ensure it is appropriate to attract, retain and motivate senior management and other key employees. |
| 2. | Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the executive compensation philosophy, policies and programs that in the Committee’s judgment support the Company’s overall business strategy and review and discuss, at least annually, the material risks associated with executive compensation structure, policies and programs to determine whether such structure, policies and programs encourage excessive risk-taking and to evaluate compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk. |
| 3. | On an annual basis, review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s CEO, evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine and approve CEO compensation based on this evaluation. In evaluating, determining and approving the long-term incentive component of CEO compensation, the Committee may consider, among such other factors as it may deem relevant, the Company’s performance, shareholder returns, the value of similar incentive awards to executive officers at comparable companies, the value of similar awards given to other executive officers of the Company, the results of the most recent shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act (the “Say -on-Pay Vote”) and the awards given to the executive officer in past years. The CEO shall not be present during voting or deliberations relating to his or her compensation. |
| 4. | On an annual basis, review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s other executive officers, evaluate the executive officers’ performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine and make recommendations to the Board with respect to executive officer compensation based on this evaluation. In evaluating and making recommendations with respect to the long-term incentive component of executive officer compensation, the Committee may consider, among such other factors as it may deem relevant, the Company’s performance, shareholder returns, the value of similar incentive awards to executive officers at comparable companies, the value of similar awards given to other executive officers of the Company, the results of the most recent shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act (the “Say-on-Pay Vote”) and the awards given to the executive officer in past years. No executive officer may be present during voting or deliberations relating to his or her compensation. |
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| 5. | Review on an annual basis and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s incentive compensation, equity-based and pension plans, if any. With respect to each such plan, the Committee shall have responsibility for: |
| (a) | implementing and administering the plan; |
| (b) | setting performance targets under all annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation plans as appropriate and committing to writing any and all performance targets for executive officers who may be “covered employees” under applicable laws and regulations; |
| (c) | if called for by the plan, certifying that any and all performance targets used for any performance-based equity compensation plans have been met before payment of any executive bonus or compensation or exercise of any executive award granted under any such plans; |
| (d) | approving all amendments to, and terminations of, all compensation plans and any awards under such plans; |
| (e) | granting any awards under any performance-based annual bonus, long- term incentive compensation and equity compensation plans to executive officers or current employees with the potential to become the CEO or an executive officer, including stock options and other equity rights (e.g., restricted stock and stock purchase rights); |
| (f) | approving which executive officers are entitled to awards under the Company’s stock option plans; and |
| (g) | approving repurchases of securities from terminated employees. |
| (h) | In reviewing the Company’s incentive compensation, equity-based and pension plans, the Committee may consider the plan’s administrative costs, current plan features relative to any proposed new features, the results of the most recent Say-on-Pay Vote and the performance of the plan’s internal and external administrators if any duties have been delegated. |
| 6. | Review and recommend to the Board for approval any employment agreement or compensatory transaction with an executive officer of the Company involving compensation in excess of $120,000 per year. |
| 7. | Establish and periodically review policies concerning perquisite benefits and approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefits arrangements for officers and employees of the Company and approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for officers and employees of the Company. |
| 8. | Determine and recommend to the Board for approval the Company’s policy with respect to change-of-control or “parachute” payments. In reviewing the Company’s policy with respect to change of control or “parachute” payments, the Committee may consider, among such other factors as it may deem relevant, the results of the most recent Say-on- Pay Vote on “parachute” payments, if any. |
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| 9. | Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to executive officer and director indemnification and insurance matters. |
| 10. | Review and recommend to the Board for approval the compensation of directors for their service to the Board. Review, evaluate and recommend changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration of directors. |
| 11. | Approve compensation awards, including individual awards, as may be required to comply with applicable tax and state corporate laws. |
| 12. | Review the Company’s compensation disclosures in its annual proxy statement and its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and assist management in complying with proxy statement and annual report requirements. Review and discuss the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) (if required by applicable securities law) with management and based on such review and discussion, determine whether to recommend to the Board that such compensation disclosures and CD&A be disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or annual proxy statement filed with the SEC, as applicable. |
| 13. | Review and recommend to the Board for approval the frequency with which the Company will conduct Say-on-Pay Votes, taking into account the results of the most recent shareholder advisory vote on frequency of Say-on-Pay Votes required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and review and recommend to the Board for approval the proposals regarding the Say-on-Pay Vote and the frequency of the Say-on-Pay Vote to be included in the Company’s proxy statement filed with the SEC. |
| 14. | Prepare any report required by applicable rules and regulations or listing standards, including reports on executive compensation required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, or, if the Company does not file a proxy statement, in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC. |
| 15. | Review and assess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend to the Board any changes deemed appropriate by the Committee. |
| 16. | Review its own performance annually. |
| 17. | Report regularly to the Board. |
| 18. | Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s by-laws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
| V. | Resources |
The Committee shall have the authority to retain or terminate, at its sole discretion, compensation consultants, independent legal counsel or other advisors (collectively, “Advisors”) to assist the Committee in its responsibilities and shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of such Advisors. Before retaining an Advisor (other than in-house legal counsel and any Advisor whose role is limited to consulting on broad-based, non-discriminatory plans or providing information that is not customized in particular for the Company (as described in Item 407(e)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K), the Committee shall consider the independence of such Advisor, including any independence factors that it is required to consider by law or Nasdaq rules.
The chairperson of the Committee, at the request of any member of the Committee, may request that any officer, employee or advisor of the Company attend a meeting of the Committee or otherwise respond to Committee requests.
The Committee shall have the sole authority to determine the terms of engagement and the extent of funding necessary (and to be provided by the Company) for payment of compensation to any Advisors or other professionals retained to advise the Committee and ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
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Exhibit 99.3
Chenghe Acquisition
III Co.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter
| I. | Purpose |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), shall
| (a) | identify, screen and review individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the Company’s board of directions (the “Board”), and recommend to the Board, candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of shareholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
| (b) | develop and recommend to the Board and oversee implementation of our corporate governance guidelines; |
| (c) | coordinate and oversee the annual self-evaluation of the Board, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and |
| (d) | review on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommend improvements as and when necessary. |
| II. | Organization |
The Committee shall consist of two or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the applicable independence requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and any other applicable regulatory requirements, subject to the phase-in periods permitted under Nasdaq rules under which the Committee is required to have only one independent member by the earlier of the date the initial public offering closes or five business days from listing, a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing and all independent members within one year of listing.
Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and may be removed by the Board at any time. The Committee’s chairperson shall be designated by the Board or, if not so designated, the members of the Committee shall elect a chairperson by a vote of the majority of the full Committee.
The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees from time to time as it sees fit, provided that the subcommittees are composed entirely of directors who satisfy the applicable independence requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, Nasdaq and any other applicable regulatory requirements.
| III. | Meetings |
The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities but no less frequently than two times annually unless the Committee determines that fewer meetings are required in a particular year. Meetings shall be called by the chairperson of the Committee or, if there is no chairperson, by a majority of the members of the Committee. Meetings may be held telephonically or by other electronic means to the extent permitted by the Company’s organizational documents and applicable law. Committee actions may be taken by unanimous written consent.
| IV. | Authority and Responsibilities |
To fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee shall:
| 1. | Develop and recommend to the Board for approval (as part of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines or otherwise) the criteria for Board membership, including as to director independence and diversity, and periodically review these qualifications with the Board. |
| 2. | Identify, screen and review individuals qualified to become members of the Board in a manner consistent with the criteria approved by the Board and recommend to the Board the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders or to fill vacancies on the Board. As part of this process the Committee shall formally review each director’s continuation on the Board each time such director is nominated to serve on the Board. In identifying and reviewing the qualifications of candidates for membership on the Board, the Committee shall consider all factors which it deems appropriate, including the requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and any other criteria approved by the Board. |
| 3. | Develop and periodically assess the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to the consideration of director nominees submitted by shareholders of the Company and review the qualifications of such candidates pursuant to these policies and procedures. |
| 4. | At the request of the Board, review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the size, composition and organization of the Board and committees of the Board. |
| 5. | At the request of the Board, review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to Board process, including the calendar, agenda and information requirements for meetings of the Board and its committees, executive sessions of non-management directors and executive sessions of independent directors. |
| 6. | Assist the Board in determining whether individual directors have material relationships with the Company that may interfere with their independence, as provided under the requirements of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, Nasdaq or any other applicable regulatory requirements. |
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| 7. | Develop and recommend to the Board for approval a Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and executive officer succession plan (the “Succession Plan”), develop and recommend to the Board for approval an interim CEO succession plan in the event of an unexpected occurrence and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to review the Succession Plan from time to time with the CEO and any other executive officers and recommend to the Board for approval any changes to, or candidates for succession under, the Succession Plan. |
| 8. | Coordinate and oversee the annual evaluation of the Board, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the Company. |
| 9. | Develop, review and assess the adequacy of the Company’s corporate governance principles and guidelines annually, recommend to the Board any changes the Committee deems appropriate and oversee implementation of such guidelines. |
| 10. | Develop and maintain the Company’s orientation programs for new directors and continuing education programs for directors. |
| 11. | Review and discuss as appropriate with management the Company’s disclosures relating to director independence, governance and director nomination matters and, based on such review and discussion, determine whether to recommend to the Board that such disclosures be disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or annual proxy statement filed with the SEC, as applicable. |
| 12. | Review on a regular basis the Company’s overall corporate governance and recommend improvements as and when necessary. |
| 13. | Review and assess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend to the Board any changes deemed appropriate by the Committee. |
| 14. | Report regularly to the Board. |
| 15. | Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s by-laws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems appropriate. |
| V. | Resources |
The Committee shall have the authority, at its sole discretion, to retain and terminate search firms to identify director candidates, consultants and any other advisors (the “Advisors”) to assist it in carrying out its duties. The chairperson of the Committee, at the request of any member of the Committee, may request any officer, employee or advisor of the Company to attend a meeting of the Committee or otherwise respond to Committee requests.
The Committee shall have the sole authority to determine the terms of engagement and the extent of funding necessary (and to be provided by the Company) for payment of compensation to any Advisor retained to advise the Committee and ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
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Exhibit 99.7
CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO.
Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation Policy
Chenghe Acquisition III Co. (the “Company”) has adopted this Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation Policy (this “Recovery Policy”) to set forth the procedures for the identification, review, and recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation involving the Company and any “Executive Officer” (as defined below).
Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply for this Recovery Policy.
Executive Officer. The term “Executive Officer” shall include the Company’s chief executive officer, chairman of the board of director, chief financial officer of the Company in charge of a principal business unit, division, or sales, any other officer who performs a significant policy-making function. Identification of an executive officer would include at a minimum executive officers identified pursuant to 17 CFR 229.401(b) and who would be otherwise named within the Company’s annual proxy filing.
Financial reporting measures. Financial reporting measures are measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the issuer’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Stock price and total shareholder return are also financial reporting measures. A financial reporting measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the Commission.
Incentive-based compensation. Incentive-based compensation is any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a financial reporting measure.
Accounting restatement. An accounting restatement results in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under relevant securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period.
Received. Incentive-based compensation is deemed received in the issuer’s fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the incentive-based compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the incentive-based compensation occurs after the end of that period.
Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation
It is the intention of the Company through this Recovery Policy that the Company will take all available steps to recover reasonably promptly the amount of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement. the Company’s obligation to recover erroneously awarded compensation is not dependent on if or when the restated financial statements are filed.
Application of This Policy
This Recovery Policy shall apply to all incentive-based compensation received by a person:
| 1. | After beginning service as an executive officer; |
| 2. | Who served as an executive officer at any time during the performance period for that incentive-based compensation; |
| 3. | While the Company has a class of securities listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Exchange”); |
| 4. | During the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years. |
Relevant Recovery Period
For purposes of determining the relevant recovery period, the date that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement is the earlier to occur of:
| 1. | The date the Company’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, or the officer or officers of the issuer authorized to take such action if board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement; or |
| 2. | The date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an accounting restatement. |
Requirement for Recovery
The Company must recover erroneously awarded compensation in compliance with its recovery policy unless the Company’s compensation committee responsible for executive compensation decisions has made a determination that recovery would be impracticable to the extent that one or more of the following conditions are met:
| 1. | The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing the policy would exceed the amount to be recovered. the Company will make a reasonable attempt to recover such erroneously awarded compensation before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of erroneously awarded compensation based on expense of enforcement, document such reasonable attempt(s) to recover, and provide that documentation to the Exchange. |
| 2. | Recovery would violate home country law where that law was adopted prior to November 28, 2022. the Company must obtain an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to the Exchange, that recovery would result in such a violation before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of erroneously awarded compensation based on violation of home country law, and must provide such opinion to the Exchange. |
| 3. | Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the registrant, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations thereunder. |
Amounts Required to be Recovered
The amount of incentive-based compensation subject to the Company’s recovery policy (“erroneously awarded compensation”) is the amount of incentive-based compensation received that exceeds the amount of incentive-based compensation that otherwise would have been received had it been determined based on the restated amounts, computed without regard to any taxes paid.
For incentive-based compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of erroneously awarded compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an accounting restatement:
| 1. | The amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the accounting restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the incentive-based compensation was received; and |
| 2. | The Company must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the Exchange. |
Compliance and Disclosure
The Company must file all disclosures with respect to such Recovery Policy in accordance with the requirements of the Federal securities laws, including the disclosure required by the applicable Commission filings.
Review and Approval
This policy shall be approved by the compensation committee and reviewed periodically to ensure compliance with applicable Exchange laws.