8-K
IX Acquisition Corp. (IXAQF)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 8-K
Current
Report
Pursuant
to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date
of earliest event reported): January 8, 2026 (January 6, 2026)
IX Acquisition Corp*.*
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Cayman Islands | 001-40878 | 98-1586922 |
|---|---|---|
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 53 Davies Street, W1K 5JH<br><br>United Kingdom | Not Applicable |
|---|---|
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
+44 (0) (203)
908-0450
(Registrant’s telephone number, includingarea code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changedsince last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the<br>Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|---|---|
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the<br>Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)<br>under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)<br>under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: None.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Important Notice Regarding Forward-LookingStatements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the pending transactions among Parent, Merger Sub and the Company and the transactions contemplated thereby, and the parties’ perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction, including the anticipated initial enterprise value and post-closing equity value, the benefits of the proposed transaction, integration plans, expected synergies and revenue opportunities, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth, the expected management and governance of the combined company, and the expected timing of the transactions. The words “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, assumptions (including assumptions about general economic, market, industry and operational factors), known or unknown, which could cause the actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated.
Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending transaction, including the risk that the transaction may not close due to one or more closing conditions to the transaction not being satisfied or waived, such as regulatory approvals not being obtained, on a timely basis or otherwise, or that a governmental entity prohibited, delayed or refused to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction or required certain conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals; (ii) risks related to the ability of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company to successfully integrate the businesses; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the applicable transaction agreements; (iv) the risk that there may be a material adverse change with respect to the financial position, performance, operations or prospects of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company; (v) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; (vi) the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Parent’s securities; (vii) the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers and on their operating results and businesses generally; (viii) the risk that the combined company may be unable to achieve cost-cutting synergies or it may take longer than expected to achieve those synergies; and (ix) risks associated with the financing of the proposed transaction. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Parent’s IPO prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the SEC by Parent in connection with the proposed transactions, and other documents that the parties may file or furnish with the SEC, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and Parent, Merger Sub and the Company and their subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation.
Additional Information and Where to FindIt
In connection with the transaction described herein, Parent will file relevant materials with the SEC, including the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and a proxy statement/prospectus. The proxy statement/prospectus and a proxy card will be mailed to shareholders of Parent as of a record date to be established for voting at the shareholders’ meeting relating to the proposed transactions. Shareholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus without charge from Parent. The Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus, once available, may also be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by writing to Parent at 53 Davies Street, W1K 5JH United Kingdom. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF PARENT ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS THAT PARENT WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PARENT, MERGER SUB, THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSACTIONS.
Participants in Solicitation
The Merger Sub and the Company and certain shareholders of Parent, and their respective directors, executive officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Parent ordinary shares in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Parent’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Parent’s ordinary shares is set forth in Parent’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed transaction when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
| Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
|---|
As previously disclosed, on March 29, 2024, IX Acquisition Corp. (“Parent”) entered into a Merger Agreement by and among Parent, AKOM Merger Sub Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and AERKOMM Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) (as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “MergerAgreement”). The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, following the Domestication (as defined below) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), after which the Company will be the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation” or “Pubco”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
On September 25, 2024, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment No.1”) to the Merger Agreement to (1) provide that any lock-up period applicable to the Sponsor or any officers, directors or affiliates of Parent will terminate at the Closing of the Merger, (2) change the percentage of the Founder Shares being treated as Escrowed Sponsor Shares from 50% to 25%, (3) add a provision providing for the Company to pay certain amounts to Parent to cover its working capital and extension expenses, and (4) add a provision that Parent may terminate the Merger Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date if the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company enters into voluntary bankruptcy or fails to remove within 60 days any petition in bankruptcy filed against it prior to Closing.
On February 12, 2025, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company entered into a second amendment to the Merger Agreement (the “AmendmentNo. 2”) to amend and restate the definitions of both “Indebtedness” and “Working Capital” in Section 1.1.
On April 12, 2025, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company entered into a third amendment to the Merger Agreement (the “Amendment No. 3”) to amend and restate Section 10.1 of the Merger Agreement-Termination Without Default.
On January 8, 2026, Parent entered into an amendment to the Merger Agreement (the “Amendment No. 4”) whereby Parent will become a Delaware corporation by means of a merger of Parent with and into a newly formed Delaware corporation pursuant to the Cayman Islands Companies Law and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, with such newly formed Delaware corporation becoming the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Domestication”).
The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement, the Amendment No. 1, the Amendment No. 2, the Amendment No. 3 and the Amendment No. 4, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 and are incorporated herein. Unless otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms used above are defined in the Merger Agreement and the Amendment No. 4.
| Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
|---|
On January 6, 2026, the Division of Corporation Finance declared Parent’s registration statement on Form S-4 abandoned because it was not amended for more than nine (9) months.
In 2026, Parent intends to file a registration on Form S-4.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
|---|
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| IX Acquisition Corp. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dated: January 8, 2026 | By: | /s/<br> Noah Aptekar | |
| Name: | Noah Aptekar | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 2.5
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO MERGER AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 4TO MERGER AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made as of January [ 8 ], 2026 (the “Amendment Date”) by and among AERKOMM Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), IX Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares that, in accordance with the Agreement (as defined below), is planned to be redomesticated as a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and AKOM Merger Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent prior to the Domestication (as defined below) (“Merger Sub”). Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall individually be referred to herein as a “Party” and, collectively, the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub entered into that certain Merger Agreement dated as of March 29, 2024 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.3 of the Agreement, the Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by each Party; and
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to amend the Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound and in consideration of the mutual provisions set forth in this Amendment and the Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment to Paragraph C of the Agreement’s Recitals. Paragraph C of the
recitals of the Agreement is hereby deleted and amended to read in its entirety as follows:
C. At least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date (as defined below) and
on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Parent shall redomicile as and become a Delaware corporation by means of a merger of Parent with and into a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent prior to the Domestication (as defined below) pursuant to the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Companies Act”) and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), whereby such newly formed Delaware corporation shall be the survivor of such merger;
2. Amendment to Paragraph D of the Agreement’s Recitals. Paragraph D of the
recitals of the Agreement is hereby deleted and amended to read in its entirety as follows:
D. Concurrently with the Domestication (as defined below), Parent shall adopt the newly formed Delaware corporation’s organizational documents (in substantially the forms attached as Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Parent and the Company);
3. Amendment to Section 1.1 of the Agreement.
(a) The following definition is hereby added to Section 1.1 of the Agreement in its appropriate alphabetical location:
The term “Parent” in the Agreement shall mean (a) prior to the Domestication, IX Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares and (b) after the Domestication, the company surviving the merger of Parent and a newly formed Delaware corporation.
(b) The definition of “Domestication” in Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
The term “Domestication” in the Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) of the Agreement.
4. Amendment to Section 2.1 of the Agreement. Section 2.1 of the Agreement is
hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
4.1 Domestication.
(a) Subject to receipt of the Parent Shareholder Approval, at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation by means of a merger of Parent with and into a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent pursuant to the Cayman Islands Companies Law and the applicable provisions of the DGCL, with such newly formed Delaware corporation becoming the surviving corporation in the merger, and subject to the receipt of the approval of the shareholders of Parent to the reincorporation merger terms, Parent shall adopt the newly formed Delaware corporation’s certificate of incorporation in form attached as Exhibit A hereto and the newly formed Delaware corporation’s bylaws in form attached as Exhibit B hereto, with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Parent and the Company (the “Domestication”).
(b) Immediately prior to the effective time of the Domestication, every issued and outstanding Parent Unit shall separate into each’s individual components of one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one Parent Warrant and all Parent Units shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist. In connection with the Domestication: (i) each then issued and outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Share shall convert automatically into one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent; (ii) each then issued and outstanding Parent Class B Ordinary Share shall convert automatically into one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent; and (iii) each then issued and outstanding Parent Warrant shall convert automatically into one warrant to acquire one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent (“Domesticated Parent Warrant”), pursuant to the Parent Warrant Agreement.
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5. Amendment to Section 5.4 of the Agreement. Section 5.4 of the Agreement is
hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
5.4 Governmental Authorization. None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement by a Parent Party or the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby requires any consent, approval, license or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with any Authority except for (a) any SEC or Nasdaq filings and approval required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder, (b) filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, a Certificate of Merger with respect to the Domestication, (c) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands pursuant to the Companies Act ( As Revised) of the Cayman Islands with respect to the Merger, and (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, (e) requirements under any other applicable Laws, including any filing required pursuant to the HSR Act.
6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents
and warrants to Parent that each of the following representations and warranties are true, correct and complete as of the date of this Amendment and as of the Closing Date:
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, in the case of the Merger, subject to receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Amendment and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. No other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Amendment or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Amendment (other than, in the case of the Merger, the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval). This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto, this Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(b) None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Amendment or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby does or will (a) contravene or conflict with the contravene or conflict with the organizational or constitutive documents of the Company, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or Order binding upon or applicable to the Company or to any of its respective properties, rights or assets, (c) (i) require consent, approval or waiver under, (ii) constitute a default under or breach of (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), (iii) violate, (iv) give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company Group or to a loss of any material benefit to which the Company Group is entitled, in the case of each of clauses (i) – (iv), under any provision of any Permit, Contract or other instrument or obligations binding upon the Company Group or any of its respective properties, rights or assets, (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any of the Company Group’s properties, rights or assets, or (e) require any consent, approval or waiver from any Person pursuant to any provision of the organizational or constitutive documents of the Company Group, except for such consent, approval or waiver which shall be obtained (and a copy provided to Parent) prior to the Closing, except in the case of clauses (c) – (e) as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
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7. Representations and Warranties of the Parent Parties. Parent and Merger Sub (the
“Parent Parties”) hereby represent and warrant to the Company that each of the following representations and warranties are true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date:
(a) Each of the Parent Parties has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, in the case of the Domestication and the Merger, subject to receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval. The execution and delivery by each of the Parent Parties of this Amendment and the consummation by each of the Parent Parties of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Parent Party. No other corporate proceedings on the part of such Parent Party are necessary to authorize this Amendment or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Amendment (other than the Parent Stockholder Approval). This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Parent Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto (other than a Parent Party), this Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Parent Party, enforceable against such Parent Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(b) None of the execution, delivery and performance by a Parent Party of this Amendment or the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby does or will (a) contravene or conflict with the organizational or constitutive documents of the Parent Parties, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or any Order binding upon the Parent Parties, (c) (i) require consent, approval or waiver under, (ii) constitute a default under or breach of (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), (iii) violate, (iv) give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any right or obligation of a Parent Party or to a loss of any material benefit to which a Parent Party is entitled, in the case of each of clauses (i) – (iv), under any provision of any Permit, Contract or other instrument or obligations binding upon a Parent Party or any of its respective properties, rights or assets, (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any Parent Party’s properties, rights or assets, or (e) require any consent, approval or waiver from any Person pursuant to any provision of the organizational documents of any Parent Party, except for such consent, approval or waiver which shall be obtained (and a copy provided to the Company) prior to the Closing, except in the case of clauses (c) – (e) as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
8. No Waiver. No waiver of any breach or default hereunder shall be considered valid
unless in writing, and no such waiver shall be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of the same or similar nature.
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9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Entire Agreement. The Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, together with the Ancillary Agreements, sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related thereto (whether written or oral), all of which are merged herein.
(b) Ratification. Except as amended hereby, the terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Agreement and the terms of this Amendment, the terms of this Amendment shall govern and control.
(c) Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one agreement. This Amendment shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.
(d) Governing Law. This Amendment and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Amendment or the transactions contemplated hereby, including the applicable statute of limitations, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
| Parent: | |
|---|---|
| IX ACQUISITION CORP. | |
| By: | /s/ Noah Aptekar |
| Name: | Noah Aptekar |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Merger Sub: | |
| AKOM MERGER SUB, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Louis Giordimaina |
| Name: | Louis Giordimaina |
| Title: | President |
| Company: | |
| AERKOMM INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Louis Giordimaina |
| Name: | Louis Giordimaina |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 toMerger Agreement]