First Digital Acquisition Corp Ltd S-1/A, filed Jul 31, 2025
First Digital Acquisition Corp Ltd. (KOYN)
As submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2025.
Registration No. 333-288156
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 3
FORM S-1/A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CSLM DIGITAL ASSET ACQUISITION CORP III, LTD
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Cayman Islands | 6770 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
2400
E. Commercial Boulevard, Suite 900
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
Telephone: (954) 315-9381
(Address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Charles
T. Cassel III
Chief Executive Officer
2400
E. Commercial Boulevard, Suite 900
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
Telephone: (954) 315-9381
(Name, address, including zip code,
and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Mitchell S. Nussbaum,
Esq. |
Jose Santos |
Jeffrey C. Selman,
Esq. |
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-filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This 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 30, 2025 |
$200,000,000
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
20,000,000 Units
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (formerly known as, CSLM Acquisition Corporation II, Ltd) (the “Company”), is a newly organized blank check company or special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “initial business combination.” We have not selected any specific business combination target. To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. Our efforts to identify a potential initial business combination target will focus on companies operating in the “new economy sectors,” which we broadly define as those in technology, financial services, or media and that are located in Frontier Growth Markets (as defined herein). While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any country or sector, we intend to capitalize on the decades of experience of our management team and board to identify, acquire and manage a business or businesses that we believe can benefit from their long-established relationships and expertise of having operated a successful investment management business in these regions. Our management team and board have a decades-long track record of investing across emerging markets and deep networks within the crypto, digital asset, and technology ecosystems. We believe we are well-positioned to identify businesses that are building core infrastructure such as wallets, custody, exchanges, data protocols, and tokenized financial instruments as well as real-world applications of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, including in payments, DeFi (as defined herein), and cross-border finance.
We also believe that emerging and frontier markets provide fertile ground for digital asset adoption given their younger demographics, fragmented financial systems, and lower existing penetration of legacy infrastructure. We are particularly interested in opportunities that combine strong local execution with global crypto-native scalability.
For example, CSLM Acquisition Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement with Fusemachines, an AI company focused on emerging market talent development. In this company, we are expanding this mandate to include crypto-native, token-enabled, or blockchain-infrastructure-oriented companies with real-world traction.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 each. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant. We refer herein to the units sold in this offering as our “public units,” and the components thereof as our “public shares,” and “public warrants,” respectively. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Each warrant will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation as described in this prospectus. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. As a result, you must purchase at least two units in order to validly exercise your warrants. We have also granted our underwriter, Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC (“CCM”), a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares that are sold as part of the public units in this offering, which we refer to collectively as our 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 described below as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, less taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. See “Summary — The Offering — Redemption rights for public shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination” and “Summary — The Offering — Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination” for more information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those shareholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination. See “Summary — The Offering — Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding more than 15% of the public shares sold in this offering if we hold a shareholder vote” for further discussion on certain limitations on redemption rights.
Our Sponsor, CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Sponsor”), formed for the purpose of investing in us, and the underwriter in this offering, have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 775,000 private units in a private placement (or 891,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at the price of $10.00 per private unit. Of the 775,000 private units, our Sponsor has agreed to purchase 500,000 private units (or 575,000 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and the underwriter has agreed to purchase 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). We refer to these units throughout this prospectus as the “private units.” Each private unit consists of one Class A ordinary share of the Company and one-half of a warrant to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share of the Company at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. Each private unit will be identical to the public units sold in this offering, except as described in this prospectus. The private units will be sold in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering, including the over-allotment option, as applicable.
Four (4) institutional investors (none of which are affiliated with any member of our management, our Sponsor or any other investor), which we refer to as the “non-managing Sponsor investors” throughout this prospectus, have expressed an interest to indirectly purchase, through the purchase of securities in our Sponsor, an aggregate of 100,000 private units ($1,000,000 in the aggregate) at a price of $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each non-managing Sponsor investor indirectly purchasing, through securities in our Sponsor, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the Sponsor will issue its securities at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing Sponsor investors reflecting interests in an aggregate of 400,000 founder shares held by the Sponsor. The Sponsor will continue holding founder shares and private units until the completion of our initial business combination, and as such, until that time, it will control the voting by these shares and will have the sole discretion as to when to convert the founder shares and private shares into Class A ordinary Shares.
For a discussion of certain additional arrangements with the non-managing Sponsor investors, See “Summary — The Offering — Expressions of Interest.”
Our Sponsor has purchased an aggregate of 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares for an aggregate of $25,000 or approximately $0.003 per share, up to 1,000,000 of which will be surrendered to us for no consideration after the closing of this offering depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised, which will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holders thereof on a one-for-one basis, subject to the adjustments described herein. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 23,000,000 units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full and therefore that such founder shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after this offering (excluding any shares underlying the private units). If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a share capitalization or a share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial shareholders, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (not including the Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the private units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private warrants). Such issuance will significantly dilute the equity interest of our other shareholders. Up to 1,000,000 founder shares will be surrendered to us for no consideration after the closing of this offering depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. Although the percentage of the founder shares will remain constant, public shareholders will be subject to further dilution based upon the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment is exercised. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares (including those issued in connection with an increase in the size of the offering) may ultimately 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 the section titled “Dilution” on page 124 for more information.
As a result, as of the date of this prospectus, we have 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares, or “founder shares,” outstanding acquired by our Sponsor (our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share). Because our Sponsor (and upon the closing of the Securities Transfer Agreement, each of the Company’s director nominees Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew) acquired the Class B ordinary shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units. 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 (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of this offering (including any Class A ordinary shares issued pursuant to the underwriter’s over-allotment option and excluding the Class A ordinary shares that are included within the private units), plus (ii) all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued, in connection with the closing of the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any units issued to our Sponsor or any of its affiliates or to our officers or directors upon conversion of working capital loans) minus (iii) any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination; provided that such conversion of founder shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis. Although Class A ordinary shares redeemed by public shareholders in connection with an initial business combination will be subtracted from the number of shares used to determine the 25% interest, the shares redeemed in connection with any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will not be subtracted from the number of shares used to determine the 25% interest. The Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares or an increase in the size of the offering (including those issued in connection with an increase in the size of the offering) may ultimately 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. Public shareholders will experience additional dilution from the issuance of the shares (the “private shares”) underlying the private units (including private shares underlying private units issued upon conversion of working capital loans). Further, upon exercise of the warrants underlying the private units (the “private warrants”), we will issue an aggregate of 387,500 Class A ordinary shares (or 408,125 Class A ordinary shares if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). Additional shares may be issued upon exercise of any private warrants underlying the private units issued upon conversion of working capital loans. The exercise of the warrants would cause the actual dilution to the public shareholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized for the warrants. See “Summary— The Offering— Sponsor’s Securities and Compensation” for further discussion on Sponsor’s and our affiliates’ securities and compensation. The proceeds from the sale of the founder shares will not be placed in the trust account described below.
Prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares (i) will have the right to vote to appoint and remove directors prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) will be entitled to vote on continuing our Company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend our constitutional documents or to adopt new constitutional documents, in each case, as a result of our approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands). On any other matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, holders of the Class B ordinary shares and holders of the Class A ordinary shares will vote together as a single class, except as required by law.
Upon consummation of this offering or thereafter, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses, and we will begin paying our Sponsor $30,000 per month (the “Administrative Services Fee”) for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. In the event that following this offering we obtain working capital loans from our Sponsor or any of its affiliates or from our officers or directors to finance transaction costs related to our initial business combination, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of our Sponsor. Additionally, following consummation of a business combination, members of our management team will be entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between members of our management team, our Sponsor and its affiliates on the one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other. See “Summary — Sponsor Information”, “Summary — The Offering — Founder Shares”, “Summary — The Offering — Transfer Restrictions on Founder Shares”, and “Summary — The Offering — Founder Shares Conversion and Anti-Dilution Rights” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor 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 Sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline.” for further discussion of our Sponsor’s and our affiliates’ securities and compensation.
As more fully discussed in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. The low price that our Sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (as may be extended by shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination), or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private units may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our Sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. We may also engage our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor as an advisor or otherwise in connection with our initial business combination and certain other transactions and pay such person or entity a salary or fee in an amount that constitutes a market standard for comparable transactions. Any such salary or fee would be paid using available working capital funds (including proceeds from any promissory notes issued by us and funds released from the trust account upon completion of our initial business combination), but would not in any event be paid out of the administrative services fee. As of the date of this prospectus, no arrangements are currently in place with respect to the payment of any finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, or with respect to the payment of a salary or other fee to our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor as an advisor or otherwise in connection with our initial business combination or any other transaction but we may choose to make such arrangements in the future. Additionally, we will pay our Sponsor in an amount equal to $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. Upon consummation of this offering, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. In the event that following this offering we obtain working capital loans from our Sponsor or any of its affiliates or from our officers or directors to finance transaction costs related to our initial business combination, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of our Sponsor. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between our Sponsor and its affiliates on the one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other hand.
Our Sponsor is an affiliate of Consilium Investment Management LLC (“CIM”), an SEC-registered investment management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Charles T. Cassel III, our Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Binder, one of our directors, are principals of CIM. Given our affiliation with CIM, we intend to capitalize on its global platform and investment expertise which we believe, together with the extensive experience of our management team, well positions our Company. CIM will act as an advisor and will assist with general diligence, administrative, and advisory support we require in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor. However, we have not entered into a formal agreement with CIM and we will not compensate CIM for such services. The founders of CIM have over six decades of experience in Emerging Markets and Frontier Growth Markets. They have deep relationships with companies, management teams, policy makers, and advisors in the space. CIM and its founders have participated in private equity and mezzanine financing transactions and will rely on their broad network in Frontier Growth Markets in order to identify target acquisitions that have the desire to list in the United States and have the infrastructure necessary to comply with regulatory requirements.
Our Sponsor is also an affiliate of Meteora Capital, LLC, an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments (“Meteora”). Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora. Meteora will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and we will not compensate Meteora for such services. Meteora’s principals have previous experience across the full lifecycle of SPACs, from the initial public offering to the de-SPAC business combination process. Meteora will provide resources including a network of relationships, extensive SPAC knowledge base and a standardized SPAC operating system to streamline the business combination process. Meteora’s ability to invest across the entire SPAC capital structure (risk capital, primary market, secondary market, PIPEs, convertible notes and other special situations) has created an end-to-end platform and partner to SPAC sponsors. Furthermore, Meteora has diverse sector experience across digital assets, technology, media and telecommunications, fintech, energy, consumer & retail, business & distribution services, healthcare, aerospace and defense. Meteora believes that its access to numerous private equity and venture capital backed private companies provides a robust pipeline for potential acquisition candidates. Meteora is expected to purchase units from the underwriter in this offering at the offering price. Meteora is neither a broker-dealer nor affiliated with one and is not acting as an underwriter in connection with this offering. See the sections titled “Summary — Sponsor Information”, “Summary — Conflicts of Interest”, “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination — Since our Sponsor, officers and directors, and any other holders of our founder shares, including any non-managing sponsor investors, may lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to public shares they may acquire during or after this offering), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for more information.
We have until the date that is 24 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 anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, holders of public shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less income taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month period and do not hold a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will constitute full and complete payment for the public shares and completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation or other distributions, if any), subject to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and subject to the other requirements of applicable law. The redemption rights will also 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.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, we do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of this offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination or fail to obtain shareholder approval to extend the completion window, our Sponsor’s investment in our founder shares and our private units (and the securities comprising such units) will be worthless.
There is presently no public market for our public units, Class A ordinary shares, or public warrants. We intend to apply to list our public units on the Nasdaq Global Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “KOYN” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. The Class A ordinary shares and the public warrants constituting the public units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, unless the underwriter determines that an earlier date is acceptable, and subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) containing an audited balance sheet of the Company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the securities comprising the public units begin separate trading, we expect that our Class A ordinary shares and public warrants will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “KOYN” and “KOYNW,” 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. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 55 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.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
No offer or invitation, whether directly or indirectly, is being or may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of our securities.
| Per Unit | Total | |||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 200,000,000 | ||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | 0.60 | $ | 12,000,000 | ||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | 9.40 | $ | 188,000,000 | ||||
| (1) | Includes $0.20 per unit, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding any units sold pursuant to the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units, or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units is exercised in full), payable to the underwriter upon the closing of this offering. The underwriter has committed to using $2,750,000 of such funds to purchase from us 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. Also includes $0.40 per unit, or up to $8,000,000 in the aggregate (or up to $9,200,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to the underwriter in this offering based on the percentage of funds remaining in the trust account after redemptions of public shares, for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States and released to the underwriter only upon the completion of an initial business combination. The table does not include certain other fees and expenses payable (or securities issuable) to the underwriter in connection with this offering. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriter. |
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private units described in this prospectus, $200,000,000, or $230,000,000 if the underwriter’s overallotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be placed into a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
Because our Sponsor (and upon the closing of the Securities Transfer Agreement, each of the Company’s director nominees Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew) acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units. Further, the Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares (including those issued in connection with an increase in the size of the offering) may ultimately 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.
The following table illustrates the difference between the public offering price per unit and our net tangible book value per share (NTBV), as adjusted to give effect to this offering and assuming the redemption of our public shares at varying levels and the exercise in full and no exercise of the over-allotment option. See section entitled “Dilution” for more information.
| As of March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Offering Price of $10.00 per Unit |
25% of Maximum Redemption |
50% of Maximum Redemption |
75% of Maximum Redemption |
Maximum Redemption |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NTBV | NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 7.11 | $ | 6.46 | $ | 3.54 | $ | 5.45 | $ | 4.55 | $ | 3.62 | $ | 6.38 | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | 10.67 | ||||||||||||||||
| Assuming No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 7.10 | $ | 6.45 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 5.43 | $ | 4.57 | $ | 3.59 | $ | 6.41 | $ | (0.71 | ) | $ | 10.71 | ||||||||||||||||
Our Sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our founder shares and/or private units following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. The low price that our Sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private units (and the securities comprising such units) may be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our Sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Additionally, 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. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between our Sponsor and its affiliates on one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other. See the sections titled “Summary — Conflicts of Interest”, “Proposed Business — Initial Business Combination—Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for more information.
The underwriter is offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriter expects to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about [●], 2025.
Sole Book-Running Manager
Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC
The date of this prospectus is , 2025
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus. We and the underwriter takes no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
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.
i
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:
| ● | “we,” “us,” “Company” or “our Company” are to CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company; |
| ● | “amended and restated memorandum and articles of association” refer to the memorandum and articles of association of the Company which will be adopted prior to the consummation of this offering. |
| ● | “CCM” are to Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, the underwriter; |
| ● | “combined team” refer to our management team and our other advisors, collectively; |
| ● | “Companies Act” or “Companies Law” are to the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands as the same may be amended from time to time; |
| ● | “completion window” are to (i) the period ending on the date that is 24 months from the closing of this offering, or such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, in which we must complete an initial business combination or (ii) such other time period in which we must complete an initial business combination pursuant to an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (in which case our public shareholders will be offered an opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such amendment); |
| ● | “CIM” are to Consilium Investment Management LLC; |
| ● | “Consilium” are to CIM (as defined herein) together with its affiliate entities and funds, excluding the Company and Sponsor (as defined herein); |
| ● | “directors” are to our current directors and our director nominees named in this prospectus; |
| ● | “Emerging Markets” are to (i) those markets/countries not included in the MSCI World Index1 and (ii) Hong Kong; |
| ● | “Frontier Growth Markets” are to those countries included in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index2 or the MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index3; |
| 1 | The MSCI World Index includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US. | |
| 2 | The MSCI Frontier Markets Index includes: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Estonia, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mali, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia and Vietnam. | |
| 3 | The MSCI Frontier Emerging Markets Index includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Benin, Colombia, Croatia, Estonia, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mauritius, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Romania, Serbia, Senegal, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia and Vietnam. |
1
| ● | “founder shares” are to Class B ordinary shares initially purchased by our Sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering and the Class A ordinary shares that will be issued upon the automatic conversion of the Class B ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holders thereof as described herein (for the avoidance of doubt, such Class A ordinary shares will not be “public shares”); includes the shares that our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 Class B ordinary shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share; |
| ● | “initial shareholders” are to our Sponsor and any other to holders of our founder shares immediately prior to this offering; |
| ● | “management” or our “management team” refer to our directors and executive officers; |
| ● | “non-managing Sponsor investors” means four (4) institutional investors (none of which are affiliated with any member of our management, other members of our Sponsor or any other investor) that have expressed an interest to purchase through the purchase of securities in the Sponsor, an aggregate of 100,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per unit ($1,000,000 in the aggregate); subject to the non-managing Sponsor investors purchasing, through the Sponsor, the private units allocated to them in connection with the closing of this offering, the Sponsor will issue securities at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing Sponsor investors at the closing of this offering reflecting interests in an aggregate of 400,000 founder shares held by the Sponsor. |
| ● | “ordinary resolution” are to a resolution of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company, or a resolution approved in writing by all of the holders of the issued shares entitled to vote on such matter (or such lower threshold as may be allowed under the Companies Act from time to time); |
| ● | “permitted withdrawals” refers to withdrawals to cover any income, franchise or excise tax obligations of the Company. |
| ● | “permitted transferees” refer to permitted transferees as described under section “Principal Shareholders” of this prospectus; |
| ● | “ordinary shares” are to our Class A ordinary shares and our Class B ordinary shares; |
| ● | “private shares” are to the Class A ordinary shares included in the private units; |
| ● | “private units” are to the units issued to our Sponsor and the underwriter in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering; |
| ● | “private warrants” are to the warrants included in the private units; |
| ● | “public shares” are to Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the public 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, our management team and any non-managing Sponsor investors to the extent our initial shareholders, members of our management team or any non-managing Sponsor investors purchase public shares, provided that the each initial shareholder’s, member of our management team’s or any non-managing Sponsor investors’ status as a “public shareholder” will only exist with respect to such public shares; |
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| ● | “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); |
| ● | “special resolution” are to a resolution of the Company passed by at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority (or such higher approval threshold as specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given, or a resolution approved in writing by all of the holders of the issued shares entitled to vote on such matter (or such lower threshold as may be allowed under the Companies Act from time to time); |
| ● | “Sponsor” are to CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company, newly formed for the purpose of acting as the Sponsor in connection with this offering that which conducts no other business which is affiliated with our executive officers, directors and our other advisors; |
| ● | “warrants” are to our public warrants, private warrants and working capital warrants, if any; |
| ● | “warrant exercise date” are to the date on which the warrants will become exercisable, which is 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; |
| ● | “warrant expiration date” are to the date on which the warrants expire, which is five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; |
| ● | “working capital loans” refers to up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans made by Sponsor to the Company, which loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit; |
| ● | “working capital units” are the units that are issuable upon conversion of the working capital loans; |
| ● | “working capital warrants” are to the warrants that are components of the units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans; and |
| ● | “$,” “US$” and “U.S. dollar” each refer to the United States dollar. |
Any conversion of the Class B ordinary shares described in this prospectus will take effect as a compulsory redemption of Class B ordinary shares and an issuance of Class A ordinary shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law.
Any forfeiture of shares, and all references to forfeiture of shares, described in this prospectus shall take effect as a surrender of shares for no consideration as a matter of Cayman Islands law. Any share dividend described in this prospectus will take effect as a share capitalization as a matter of Cayman Islands law (that is, an issuance of shares from share premium).
Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriter will not exercise its over-allotment option. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriter has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriter is not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
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General
We are a blank check company incorporated on July 26, 2024 under the name “CSLM Acquisition Corporation II, Ltd” as a Cayman Islands exempted company, and re-named “CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd” by special resolution, on May 23, 2025, with no material operations of our own and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Investment Focus
While we may pursue an initial business combination in any business or industry, we expect to focus on sectors aligned with the ongoing digitization of financial infrastructure. These include digital assets, Web3 technologies, financial services infrastructure, and other blockchain-driven business models. Additionally, we will maintain a strong emphasis on companies based in or focused on emerging and frontier markets.
Our efforts to identify a potential initial business combination target will focus on companies operating in the “new economy sectors”, which we broadly define as those in technology, financial services, or media and that are located in Frontier Growth Markets (as defined herein). While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any country or sector, we intend to capitalize on decades of experience of our management team and board to identify, acquire and manage a business or businesses that we believe can benefit from their long-established relationships and expertise of having operated a successful investment management business in these regions. Our management team and board have extensive experience in identifying and executing investments at the global scale successfully across a number of sectors, and countries less followed by traditional investment managers. Given our management team and board members’ perspective on technology, quantum computing and other growth industries, having looked at over a thousand acquisition targets over the past decade, we will be examining in particular opportunities in artificial intelligence (“AI”) as well as in the rapidly growing crypto and decentralized finance (“DeFi”) areas.
For example, CSLM Acquisition Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement with Fusemachines, a company that provides AI-driven products and solutions such as AI Studio and AI Engines, and has established a global AI talent pool through its flagship AI Fellowship programs. As part of the CSLM Acquisition Corp. transaction evaluation process, Charles T. Cassel III and Jonathan Binder participated in the diligence and assessment of a broad universe of acquisition targets, including the eventual agreement with Fusemachines. Their roles at Consilium Investment Management further support their ability to evaluate, underwrite and manage complex cross-border investments in the “new economy sectors.”
In addition to CSLM Acquisition Corp., members of our management team and affiliates have been involved in multiple special purpose acquisition companies. Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, has invested in SPACs since 2008 and brings significant experience across the SPAC lifecycle. He has invested in private securities of SPAC sponsors, SPAC IPOs, secondary trading of SPAC securities, and deSPAC investments in both equity and debt. Mr. Mittal was also a member of the sponsor of GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp., which completed its business combination with Bitcoin Depot Inc. (NASDAQ: BTM) in 2023. Mr. Mittal also serves as CEO and CFO of Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I, which announced a business combination with Nexx HoldCo, LLC (NexxBuild). Additionally, Mr. Mittal serves as CFO of Berto Acquisition Corp. Christopher Bradley, our independent director nominee, has served in key roles for multiple SPACs. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. (which closed a merger with OneSpaWorld), Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II (which closed a merger with ARKO Holdings), and Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III (which closed a merger with Biote Holdings). He currently serves as Chairman, CEO and CFO of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4. In each of these roles, Mr. Bradley has been responsible for target sourcing, evaluation, and execution.
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Our Sponsor
Our Sponsor is CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company, which was incorporated on July 26, 2024 to invest in our Company. Although our Sponsor is permitted to undertake any activities permitted under the Companies Act and other applicable law, our Sponsor’s business is focused on investing in our Company. Our Sponsor is managed by its two directors, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 51% by Samara CSLM LLC and (ii) 49% by Consilium Investment Capital Inc. Consilium Investment Capital Inc., a Florida corporation, is legally and beneficially owned 50% by Charles T. Cassel III and 50% by Jonathan Binder. Samara CSLM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is legally and beneficially owned solely by Vikas Mittal and his immediate family. Upon the closing of this offering, certain non-managing Sponsor investors will own certain securities in our Sponsor.
Our Sponsor is an affiliate of Consilium Investment Management LLC (“CIM”), an SEC-registered investment management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Charles T. Cassel III, our Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Binder, one of our directors, are principals of CIM. Given our affiliation with CIM, we intend to capitalize on its global platform and investment expertise which we believe, together with the extensive experience of our management team, well positions our Company to be the partner of choice for quality Frontier Growth companies seeking public Sponsorship. CIM will assist with general diligence, administrative, and advisory support we require in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor. However, we have not entered into a formal agreement with CIM and we will not compensate CIM for such services. The founders of CIM have over six decades of experience in Emerging Markets and Frontier Growth Markets. They have deep relationships with companies, management teams, policy makers, and advisors in the space. CIM and its founders have participated in private equity and mezzanine financing transactions and will rely on their broad network in Frontier Growth Markets in order to identify target acquisitions that have the desire to list in the United States and have the infrastructure necessary to comply with regulatory requirements.
Our Sponsor is an also affiliate of Meteora, an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments. Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora. Meteora will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and we will not compensate Meteora for such services. Meteora’s principals have previous experience across the full lifecycle of SPACs, from the initial public offering to the de-SPAC business combination process. Meteora will provide resources including a network of relationships, extensive SPAC knowledge base and a standardized SPAC operating system to streamline the business combination process. Meteora’s ability to invest across the entire SPAC capital structure (risk capital, primary market, secondary market, PIPEs, convertible notes and other special situations) has created an end-to-end platform and partner to SPAC sponsors. Furthermore, Meteora has diverse sector experience across digital assets, technology, media & telecommunications, fintech, energy, consumer and retail, business and distribution services, healthcare, aerospace and defense. Meteora believes that its access to numerous private equity and venture capital backed private companies provides a robust pipeline for potential acquisition candidates.
Pursuant to an agreement of all members of the Sponsor, the management and control of the Sponsor is vested exclusively with Vikas Mittal and Charles T. Cassel III, the directors of the Sponsor, without any voting, veto, consent or other participation rights by any non-managing shareholders regardless of their unit ownership. All matters submitted to a vote by the directors will require the affirmative vote of the class C ordinary shares of the Sponsor which are held only by Samara CSLM LLC and Consilium Investment Capital Inc., without regard to any ordinary shares held by any non-managing members. As a result, non-managing Sponsor investors will have no right to control the Sponsor, or participate in any decision regarding the disposal of any security held by the Sponsor, or otherwise.
Funds and accounts managed by, or otherwise affiliated with, our Sponsor may participate in this offering and purchase units at the offering price. These affiliated funds are not obligated to participate, and the extent of their participation may be significant relative to the overall size of the offering. As a result, a substantial portion of the units sold in this offering may be held by affiliates of the Sponsor. This participation by affiliated entities may reduce the available public float of our securities, which could limit liquidity in the market for our units, Class A ordinary shares, or warrants following the offering. Additionally, because these affiliated purchasers may have different investment horizons, liquidity needs, or strategic interests than other investors, their participation may not align with the interests of unaffiliated public shareholders. Furthermore, to the extent that affiliated entities hold a material portion of the units and subsequently choose to redeem their public shares in connection with our initial business combination, this could reduce the amount of cash available to the combined company.
5
Sponsor’s Securities and Compensation
The table below summarizes (i) the amount of founder shares and private units issued or to be issued to the Sponsor in connection with this offering and the price paid or to be paid by the Sponsor for such securities, and (ii) the main items of compensation received or to be received by the Sponsor or our affiliates:
| Description | Price Paid or Payable | |||
| Number of founder shares | 7,666,667 founder shares (of which 1,000,000 are subject to surrender for no consideration to the extent the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option)* | $0.003 per share | ||
| Number of private units | 500,000 private units (or 575,000 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) | $10.00 per private unit | ||
| Office space and general and administrative services | Monthly payments to our Sponsor | $30,000 per month | ||
| Working Capital Loans | Up to $1,500,000 convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit | Not applicable |
| * | Class B ordinary shares, will be convertible at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis or will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination at a ratio such that 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 sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon the consummation of this offering, plus (ii) the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities (as defined herein) or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial business combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent shares issued to our Sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company. In no event will the Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one-to-one. The Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of our founder shares may ultimately 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. 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, share contribution back to capital, or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering, in such amount as to maintain the collective ownership of the initial shareholders, prior to this offering at approximately 25% of our issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares (excluding any shares underlying the private units) upon the consummation of this offering. Such issuance will significantly dilute the equity interests of our other shareholders. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. |
Consilium Investment Management LLC
Our Sponsor is an affiliate of CIM, an SEC-registered investment management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Established in 2004, Consilium Investment Management (“CIM”) has a long track record of successfully investing in Frontier Growth Markets and has been a top-quartile performer since the inception of its Frontier Equity Fund in 2009. CIM will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and in our search for a target or business combination and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and we will not compensate CIM for such services.
CIM has a deeply knowledgeable investment team across Frontier Growth Markets with nearly 167 years of combined experience. Its entrepreneurial, cross-collaborative approach enables the team to act with speed and certainty across a wide range of geographies. CIM’s objective across all its investment activities is to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns to investors on a consistent basis.
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Over the years, CIM has targeted regions and countries with stable monetary and political systems, two ingredients which we believe are essential foundations for economic growth. These, combined with company-specific drivers, are the cornerstones of CIM’s process of finding quality growth companies. In particular, we expect outsized growth in the new economy sectors across these regions, driven by private sector expansion, technological innovation, a growing young and middle-class population, increasing consumption, structural economic and policy reforms and demographic changes.
CIM manages two products targeted at Frontier Growth Markets. The Consilium Frontier Equity Fund, LP (the “Fund”) focuses on listed equities opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. The Consilium Extended Opportunities Fund, LP (“EOF”) focuses on less liquid opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets, and targets a three-year time horizon to extract value from companies that are relatively unknown.
Consilium Investment Capital, Inc., a Florida corporation and parent of CIM and parent of the Fund’s general partner (“CIC”), is a member of the Sponsor.
The founders of CIM have over six decades of experience in Emerging Markets and Frontier Growth Markets. They have deep relationships with companies, management teams, policy makers, and advisors in the space. CIM and its founders have participated in private equity and mezzanine financing transactions and will rely on their broad network in Frontier Growth Markets in order to identify target acquisitions that have the desire to list in the United States and have the infrastructure necessary to comply with regulatory requirements.
Meteora
Meteora, an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments, will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and in our search for a target or business combination and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and we will not compensate Meteora for such services. Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora. Meteora’s principals have previous experience across the full lifecycle of SPACs, from the initial public offering to the de-SPAC business combination process. Meteora will provide resources including a network of relationships, extensive SPAC knowledge base and a standardized SPAC operating system to streamline the business combination process. Meteora’s ability to invest across the entire SPAC capital structure (risk capital, primary market, secondary market, PIPEs, convertible notes and other special situations) has created an end-to-end platform and partner to SPAC sponsors. Furthermore, Meteora has diverse sector experience across digital assets, technology, media & telecommunications, fintech, energy, consumer and retail, business & distribution services, healthcare, aerospace and defense. Meteora believes that its access to numerous private equity and venture capital backed private companies provides a robust pipeline for potential acquisition candidates.
Our Management Team
We believe that our management team is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing set of acquisition opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets and that our local and global contacts and relationships, ranging from industry executives, private and public business owners and private equity professionals to our extensive network of trusted advisors and consultants across various sectors, will allow us to generate an attractive transaction for our shareholders. In addition, our management team has an established track record in accessing proprietary M&A opportunities among entrepreneurs and family-owned global businesses.
Charles T. Cassel III, Chief Executive Officer, is the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIM. Mr. Cassel is responsible for the risk management for CIM’s investment strategies, the day-to-day operations of CIM and all non-equity portfolio management initiatives and also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer of CIM. Before co-founding Consilium in 2004, Mr. Cassel held the position as Head of Emerging Markets Portfolio Management at Standard Asset Management from 1999 to 2004. Prior to that, from 1997 to 1999, Mr. Cassel was at Americas Trust Bank as an Emerging Market debt portfolio manager and was earlier the Chief Financial Officer for the US subsidiary of Banco Cafetero de Colombia from 1992 to 1997, where, among other responsibilities, he ran the bank’s international treasury book. Earlier from 1985 to 1991, he was a Portfolio Manager of mortgage-backed securities at Bank Atlantic, a federally chartered savings bank. From 2014 to 2017, Mr. Cassel served as a director of Panache Beverages, Inc. Since January 2022, Mr. Cassel has served as CEO, CFO and Director of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors and CEO of Edgewater Spirits LLC since January 2023. Mr. Cassel holds a B.A. in Economics from Washington & Lee University (1985) and a Masters in Accounting from Nova Southeastern University (1996). Additionally, he is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute.
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Vikas Mittal, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, has served as the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora Capital, LLC (“Meteora”) since January 2022. Over Mr. Mittal’s 20 years on the buy-side as a principal investor, he has deployed capital across event-driven investment strategies. Mr. Mittal was a member of GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp., where a Meteora investment professional also served as CFO. The SPAC raised $316.25 million in February 2022 and subsequently completed its initial business combination with Bitcoin Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ: BTM), a cryptocurrency platform operating a network of Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) and a digital wallet application, in June 2023. Bitcoin Depot was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to Bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot’s kiosks and at thousands of name-brand retail locations through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 8,400 kiosk locations as of early 2025. This represents over 30% growth in the number of kiosks since the closing of the business combination. Mr. Mittal has also served as Chief Financial Officer of Berto Acquisition Corp. since June 2025. Prior to Meteora, Mr. Mittal was an investment professional and member of Glazer Capital, LLC (“GCM”), having joined GCM in 2005. Before transitioning to the buy-side, Mr. Mittal was part of the founding team that launched Raymond James’ TMT investment banking practice in Palo Alto, California, in 2002 focusing on mid-market mergers and acquisitions and private placements. Mr. Mittal earned a B.S. in Finance from University of Florida in 2002, summa cum laude, and earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in 2012. Mr. Mittal is also a CFA holder.
Jonathan M. Binder, Director, is the co-Founder of CIM and has served Chief Investment Officer for CIM’s Frontier Equity since 2004 and Portfolio Manager for CIM’s Extended Opportunities Fund Strategies since 2018. Prior to co-founding Consilium, Mr. Binder spent four years at Standard Asset Management, a division of the Standard Bank Group of South Africa, as Chief Investment Officer, from 1999 to 2004. Mr. Binder had previously spent two years at Americas Trust Bank where he was an Emerging Market equity hedge fund portfolio manager. Prior to this, Mr. Binder was Managing Director of Latin American Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell from 1993 to 1997 and before that, launched James Capel’s equity sales trading and research business in Latin America in 1986. Since January 2022, Mr. Binder has served as Chairman and Director of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors. He graduated from the University of Bristol, England, with a B.Sc. (Econ) joint honors degree in Economics and Politics (1983). Mr. Binder is an alumnus of Eton College.
Independent Board
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect that our board of directors will consist of seven members, five of which will be “independent directors” as defined in Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rule.
Christopher Bradley, is a director nominee. Mr. Bradley is a Managing Director at Mistral Equity Partners, which he joined in 2008. Mr. Bradley brings over 20 years of experience in identifying acquisition candidates, board service, due diligence experience including accounting and financial modeling acumen, and a background in deal structuring. He currently serves as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4 since 2024 and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III until it completed its business combination in May 2022 with Biote, Corp., and has since been retained by Biote as an advisor. Mr. Bradley served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II from 2019 until its merger with ARKO (NASDAQ:ARKO) in December 2020. He served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. I from 2017 until its business combination with OneSpaWorld (NASDAQ:OSW) in 2019. Since 2016, Mr. Bradley has served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of The Beacon Consumer Incubator Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in consumer technology companies. Mr. Bradley also previously served on the board of directors of Creminelli Fine Meats, LLC, a privately held premium-priced charcuterie wholesaler from 2016 to January 2020, The Lovesac Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOVE) from 2010 to 2019, Roth CH Acquisition Corp. since 2023, and Carnegie Park Capital since 2024. Mr. Bradley also served as Chief Financial Officer of Tastemaker Acquisition Corp. from 2021 to 2023 and AF Acquisition Corp. from 2021 to 2022. Mr. Bradley has also guided Mistral portfolio companies in an operational role and, through Mistral, served on the board of Jamba, Inc. (NASDAQ: JMBA) from 2009 to 2013. Prior to Mistral, Mr. Bradley served as an investment banker at Banc of America Securities from 2005 to 2006, a Manager in Burger King’s strategy group in 2004, and a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers management consulting practice from 1999 to 2004. He is also currently serving on the advisory board of Carnegie Park Capital, a private investment fund. Mr. Bradley earned an A.B. from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.
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Mathew August is a director nominee. Mr. August is the Managing Director and Executive Chairman of Atlas Capital Partners, a New York–based single family office investment firm and merchant bank, and its related entity, ACP Animus Capital Partners, positions he has held since 2016. He has over 15 years of experience in long-term investing, advising, and building companies across the venture capital, private equity, and public markets. His investment and advisory focus spans a broad range of industries, including infrastructure, technology, digital assets, defense, consumer products, and strategic critical resources. Prior to founding Atlas, Mr. August was the Founder and Vice Chairman of a Canadian-based merchant bank, where he advised on and led transactions totaling in the billions across multiple sectors. Earlier in his career, he served as an FX desk trader at Olympia Trust Company (TSX: OLY). Mr. August currently incubates, invests in, and advises a number of public and private companies, and serves on both advisory boards and formal boards of directors. His current and past affiliations include Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc.; GSR III Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ); Colonial Energy Capital Inc.; Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML); Edge Total IQ (TSX); Volt Lithium Ltd. (TSX); Onefluent Media Inc.; Funny Water Beverages LLC; NexMetals Mining Corp. (TSX); BIOSG; and Streamex Commodities Exchange Corp. (NASDAQ: BSGM), among others.
Brian Rudick is a director nominee. Brian Rudick is a seasoned finance and digital assets executive with a broad track record spanning traditional banking, crypto markets, and strategic advisory roles. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Upexi Inc. (Nasdaq: UPXI), where he oversees the company’s cryptocurrency strategy, investor relations, marketing, and go-to-market planning. Immediately prior, Mr. Rudick was Head of Research at GSR, the world’s largest digital-asset market-maker, where he generated key thought leadership and guided GSR’s investment into Upexi’s $100 million private placement. Before transitioning to digital assets, he spent over a decade on Wall Street, primarily managing long short portfolios of bank stocks at Citadel, Balyasny, and Millennium. Mr. Rudick began his career at the Federal Reserve, conducting research central to the monetary-policy process. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Duke University, an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is a CFA Charterholder. Mr. Rudick’s experience spans traditional asset management, digital markets, and macroeconomic research.
Danel Calvillo Armendariz is a director nominee. Danel Calvillo Armendariz is an experienced financial executive with deep expertise in banking, financial regulation, and digital assets. Since January 2022, he has served as Managing Partner of Inertia Advisory LLC, where he advises financial institutions, family offices, and regulated funds on investment structuring, digital asset licensing, and regulatory compliance. He has led engagements with the Roatán Financial Services Authority and secured VASP licenses from the Bank of Spain for institutional clients, including oversight of stablecoin-based remittance operations. Mr. Calvillo Armendariz is also the legal representative of Motus LLC and Motus Wyoming LLC, subsidiaries of Inertia Advisory, where he oversees financial services licenses, digital asset operations, and stablecoin distribution, including direct minting and redemption capabilities with Tether. He serves as Director of Inertia Funds Ltd., where he led the launch of a MiFID II-regulated crypto index fund listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Previously, Mr. Calvillo Armendariz worked in the Blockchain and Digital Assets division of BBVA, contributing to the bank’s digital asset offerings in Switzerland and global strategy development. He holds board roles at Espresso Americano España and Goldsmith Investments SL. Mr. Calvillo Armendariz earned his Master’s in Banking and Financial Regulation from Universidad de Navarra, where his thesis focused on the role of CBDCs in commercial banking. His experience spans global finance, digital infrastructure, and regulatory innovation.
Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew is a director nominee. Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew is the Founder and President of SoKat Consulting LLC, a premier artificial intelligence solutions firm delivering cutting-edge machine learning and data science applications to U.S. federal agencies and top-tier financial institutions. He also serves as an Associate Professor of Finance at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where he teaches AI Essentials for Business, Cryptos and Blockchain, and Entrepreneurial Finance. A recognized thought leader at the intersection of finance and technology, Dr. Liew has received multiple Dean’s Awards for Faculty Excellence. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Portfolio Management, Journal of Alternative Investments, Journal of Financial Data Science, and the Journal of the British Blockchain Association. Before founding SoKat, Dr. Liew was Vice President at Carlyle Asset Management Group, Senior Researcher at Campbell & Company—a multi-billion dollar quantitative hedge fund—and began his career at Morgan Stanley as a Quantitative Strategist, building models for trading and risk management. Dr. Liew earned a Ph.D. in Finance from Columbia University and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago. His work bridges academia, FinTech innovation, and real-world impact in the rapidly evolving AI and financial technology landscape.
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Past performance of our management team and advisors or their affiliates including without limitation CIM is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical performance record of our management team and advisors or their affiliates as indicative of our future performance. Our officers and directors may have conflicts of interest with other entities to which they owe fiduciary or contractual obligations with respect to initial business combination opportunities. For a list of our officers and directors and entities for which a conflict of interest may or does exist between such persons and us, as well as the priority and preference that such entity has with respect to performance of obligations and presentation of business opportunities to us, please refer to the table and subsequent explanatory paragraph under “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
We believe our management team and advisors have the skills and experience to identify, evaluate and consummate a business combination and is positioned to assist businesses we acquire. However, our management team and advisors’ network and investing and operating experience do not guarantee a successful initial business combination. The members of our management team and advisors are not required to devote any significant amount of time to our business and are concurrently involved with other businesses. There is no 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 our initial business combination is completed.
Market Opportunity
We believe the convergence of blockchain innovation and underpenetrated financial infrastructure in frontier growth markets represents a generational investment opportunity. Frontier markets in the Middle East North Africa (“MENA”), Sub-Saharan Africa (“SSA”), South Asia (“SA”) and Southeast Asia (“SEA”) are rapidly digitizing, and crypto rails are increasingly leapfrogging legacy systems to provide access to payments, remittances, lending, and savings products.
We are especially focused on:
| ● | Blockchain infrastructure (L1s, L2s, rollups) |
| ● | Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) |
| ● | Institutional-grade custody, staking, and compliance solutions |
| ● | Cross-border payments and remittance platforms |
| ● | Decentralized financial services (DeFi) with real-world integration |
| ● | Emerging market exchanges and wallet providers |
| ● | Stablecoin on-ramps and payment rails |
Our strategy is to identify companies that are building real utility and adoption with a clear regulatory path and strong alignment with local market dynamics. Our ideal partner is mission-driven, globally scalable, and benefits from increased institutional and retail crypto adoption across emerging markets.
While our primary focus will be in digital asset infrastructure and applications, we will remain opportunistic in pursuing high-quality companies aligned with our expertise across the new economy sectors within frontier growth markets.
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We believe this growth in these new economy sectors across Frontier Growth Markets will be driven by private sector expansion, technological innovation, a growing young and middle-class population, increasing consumption, structural economic and policy reforms and demographic changes in the region. We believe that Frontier Growth Markets are entering a new era of economic growth, particularly in the new economy sectors, which we expect will result in attractive initial business combination opportunities for attractive risk-adjusted returns. These markets are host to a fast growing population of over 2.8 billion people, real GDP of approximately $11 trillion as of 2023, a proportion of young people with access to internet economy ecosystems and growing rapidly, often by executing business models that are already proven in more developed markets (delivery and logistics apps, e-commerce and social commerce, media streaming, mobile wallets, etc.), and in other instances innovative, tailored solutions addressing specific market needs (alternative finance, mobile payments). We believe that the largest global companies are often unable to localize their products and services to be compelling (e.g. cash on delivery to address low credit card penetration in some markets).
| ● | Middle East North Africa: We believe relatively higher incomes (especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) countries) and internet access with very low but fast-growing e-commerce penetration are creating opportunities in e-commerce, delivery services, classifieds and internet infrastructure. |
| ● | Sub-Saharan Africa: In SSA, owing to a significant unbanked population, card and digital payments remain low. This has led to significant growth in mobile wallets, alternative lenders and payments, and remittance businesses that we believe represent attractive potential opportunities for us. |
| ● | South Asia (excluding India): With a population of over 400 million across Pakistan and Bangladesh, with nearly half under the age of 25 as of 2021, rapidly rising per capita incomes and urbanization levels, we believe South Asia is a very attractive market for technology and technology enabled businesses in sectors such as e-commerce, ed-tech and food-tech. We believe high mobile penetration rates in South Asia have created opportunities for digital finance services such as mobile wallets, consumer finance and mobile payments for a population that is largely unbanked and underbanked as well as digital media services like streaming and gaming. |
| ● | Southeast Asia: SEA represents relatively more mature markets with higher income levels and more developed infrastructure as compared to MENA, SSA and SA, including higher e-commerce spending and significant time spent online by the high proportion of young population. This has led to an explosion of new media and gaming companies alongside more mature e-commerce, internet infrastructure, classifieds and other specialized players. |
Middle East and North Africa
With a population of approximately 508 million and a nominal GDP of approximately $4.32 trillion in 2023, MENA includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in North Africa. It also includes the GCC countries, comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Iraq, and the Levantine nations of Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
We believe the growth of e-commerce in MENA has further shed light on the necessity of hard and soft infrastructure to support its growth. In particular, cash on delivery is today approximately 60% of all e-commerce transaction in MENA. MasterCard finds that post-COVID consumers in MENA are 95% more likely to consider using an emerging payment method including cryptocurrency, biometrics, contactless or QR codes in the future. We believe there are opportunities for companies to address payments, logistics, and deliveries. For these reasons, we believe there are significant market opportunities in these segments.
Sub-Saharan Africa
With a population of 1.26 billion, and a nominal GDP of approximately $2.04 trillion in 2023, we believe Africa will be a major future economic source and a driver of global growth. GDP grew by 4% per year between 2010 and 2019, more than twice that of the EU-28 (1.7%) and Latin America (1.7%) over the same period. We believe African demographics are arguably the best in the world, with population growth to grow by 87% between 2020 and 2050 and reach 2.5 billion. By 2025, 45% of all Africans will be urbanized. As of 2020, consumers in Africa’s large metropolitan areas spent 79% more than national averages on goods and services.
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In particular, collective findings by Google and the IFC indicate that the region’s internet economy has the potential to contribute $180 billion to Africa’s economy by 2025, and estimates that Africa’s internet gross domestic product may rise to $712 billion by 2050. Despite the setback from COVID-19, we believe the resilience of the internet economy, coupled with private consumption, strong developer talent, public and private investment, investments in digital infrastructure, and new government policies and regulations will continue to drive this growth in Africa.
South Asia
With a population of 419 million and a nominal GDP of approximately $775 billion as of 2023, the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh have sizable populations and have demonstrated fast economic growth. In particular, Bangladesh has grown its GDP in excess of 7% per annum since 2014.
Smartphone penetration in Pakistan has grown to nearly 98 million subscribers, or 6.5 times since 2013 as shown by the Pakistan Telecom Authority. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Bangladesh has over 89.9% smartphone penetration as of 2022.
As mobile adoption in both Pakistan and Bangladesh switches from 3G and 4G to 5G, we believe there will be tremendous opportunities as the share of people online grows. In particular, we believe South Asia presents tremendous market opportunities for new economy companies.
Southeast Asia
With a population of 678 million and a nominal GDP of approximately $3.9 trillion in 2023, we believe the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, made up of countries in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos) will become a major regional economic force and a driver of global growth. ASEAN remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world with most economies seeing growth of 5% or more per annum and according to estimates by ASEAN, and will become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030 after the United States, China, and the European Union. With approximately 480 million internet users in the region, of which nearly half connect to the internet primarily through their mobile phones, Southeast Asia boasts one of the most engaged mobile internet audiences in the world. In addition, with the number of people aged 15 to 35 projected to reach 218 million by 2030, Southeast Asia’s internet economy is experiencing rapid growth, with projections to reach $1 trillion by 2030. This growth is fueled by a young, tech-savvy population, increasing smartphone adoption, and a burgeoning middle class.
In addition, we believe the Southeast Asian region presents market opportunities in the financial sector given the gap between needs of the populace and the volume of electronic payment and transfer volumes. We believe that this gap coupled with low insurance penetration in these markets create significant market opportunities in these segments. We also believe that there are not many funding sources for middle and late-stage fundraising in the Southeast Asian consumer internet space, which we believe provides potential opportunities.
Our Business Strategy
Our business strategy consists of identifying and completing a business combination with one or more businesses or entities within Frontier Growth Markets, underpinned by an ESG mandate to create long-term value for our shareholders. We believe our management team and directors’ experience and local contacts are differentiated and will enable us to successfully identify and execute an initial business combination. We plan to leverage CIM and our management team and directors’ extensive network of relationships, ranging from senior management teams at public and private companies and advisors with connections to Frontier Growth Markets, to assist in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination. Neither Meteora nor CIM is being compensated by us for the general diligence, administrative, and advisory support it will provide in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor.
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We believe our team’s strong network and differentiated expertise will help us execute on our business strategy:
Local knowledge and connections:
Our management team has more than 80 years of combined experience investing in Frontier Growth Markets.
At various times some members of our management team have lived and worked in certain markets we are targeting, which has enabled them to create professional and social networks. These relationships span the financial, corporate, legal, and political sectors. We believe their relationships and local knowledge will give our company credibility with businesses within Frontier Growth Markets and help aid in thorough company vetting and due diligence processes.
Global platform and resources:
Our management team will leverage CIM’s international investment platform to help identify, evaluate and perform comprehensive due diligence on companies in connection with the business combination. In addition, Consilium’s network of portfolio companies and advisors may be able to help a potential target expand and grow within Frontier Growth Markets.
Experience with complex and unique situations:
Our team has experience executing complex transactions and navigating complicated regulatory environments. We believe this expertise will enable our management team to structure and execute an attractive cross-border transaction. We expect to be a long-term partner to the post-merger entity and to work together with the management team to assist in the transition to a U.S.-listed company and drive long-term growth. We believe our global investment platform, deep local relationships within Frontier Growth Markets, and commitment to ESG initiatives differentiate us as a value-add partner for a leading Frontier Growth Markets company.
Focus on ESG investing:
CIM is a signatory to the UN Principles of Responsible Investing, the Intentional Endowments Network, and a member of the Emerging Market Investors Alliance, an industry group for responsible investing in Emerging Markets. Our management will be guided by ESG principles when evaluating potential targets and will seek to enhance them in the chosen company.
Our Investment Criteria
Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following characteristics and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating potential target businesses or entities. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in assessing acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with one or more businesses or entities that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to pursue an initial business combination with companies that have the following attributes:
| ● | Operations in the new economy sectors across our target markets. We believe that disruptive new economy companies benefit from highly favorable macroeconomic trends in our target markets. These trends are in their infancy, and we believe they have headroom for expansion and growth which makes investing in these sectors attractive. |
| ● | Established business models. Most of our target businesses will have models that we believe are well established in their home and core markets with relevant localization by market and established paths to profitable growth. In addition, we will seek a business that we believe has a sustainable competitive advantage as a result of differentiated de-risked business model, strong technology component, brand recognition and marketing capabilities or any other characteristics that are difficult to replicate. |
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| ● | Sector leading KPIs and unit economics. We will seek to merge with a company with critical mass that enjoys sustainable unit economics in its sector. We believe that healthy growth must be supported by strong sector KPIs steering the Company in the right direction to drive profitability and free cash flow generation. |
| ● | Scalability. We seek to invest in a business with a scalable platform and operations to take advantage of growth opportunities, including through geographical expansion and synergistic acquisitions. We intend to leverage our experience in scaling businesses in order to help accelerate growth. |
| ● | Underpenetrated and growing total addressable market. Based on our prior research and personal experience, we believe Frontier Growth Markets present a significant opportunity to invest in companies which serve an underpenetrated total addressable market. These countries hold significant potential due to their geographical size, favorable population trends and the emergence of a middle-class in certain countries. |
| ● | Strong management team and culture. We will look to partner with a passionate, experienced management team that is capable of scaling a business. We will also evaluate ways to support the team in its transition to becoming a U.S.-listed company and beyond. |
| ● | Market leadership. We will seek to combine with a company with a leading position in its geography, market share, volume, technology, product capabilities, or other attributes across an industry or segment, significant barriers to entry and a sustainable competitive advantage. |
| ● | Attractive valuation. We believe that valuations of some companies in Frontier Growth Markets are discounted relative to U.S. peers. We look to seek an acquisition of a company that has potential to grow valuation levels in line with its global peers. |
| ● | Focus on ESG and social empowerment. We will look for companies focused on making a positive impact across a variety of ESG themes within Frontier Growth Markets, as well as on a larger scale. |
Prior SPAC Experience
Below are the SPAC business combinations in which members of our management team (excluding our advisor) have participated, along with certain other information:
| ● | SPAC (CSLM Acquisition Corp.), Target (Fusemachines Inc.). |
CSLM Acquisition Corp. consummated its IPO on January 13, 2022 for 16,500,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock, one right, and one-half of one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $165,000,000. The underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full for an additional 2,475,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $189,759,000. On January 23, 2024, CSLM entered into a definitive agreement with Fusemachines Inc.
| ● | SPAC (GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp.), Target (Bitcoin Depot Inc.). |
GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp. completed its IPO on February 25, 2022 for 27,500,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of Class A common stock, one right, and one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $275,000,000. On June 30, 2023, GSR II Meteora completed its business combination with Bitcoin Depot Inc., which now trades on NASDAQ under the symbol “BTM”. The price of the common stock has ranged from $1.00 to $6.50 following consummation of the business combination.
| ● | SPAC (Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I), Target (Nexx HoldCo, LLC / NexxBuild). |
Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I completed its IPO on December 17, 2021 for 34,500,000 units, with each unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $345,000,000. On May 27, 2025, Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I announced a definitive business combination agreement with Nexx HoldCo, LLC (NexxBuild).
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| ● | SPAC (Haymaker Acquisition Corp.), Target (OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited). |
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. consummated its IPO on October 26, 2017 for 30,000,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $300,000,000. The underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option in for an additional 3,000,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $330,000,000. Haymaker closed its merger with OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited on March 19, 2019. OneSpaWorld trades on NASDAQ under the symbol “OSW”, and the price of the common stock has ranged from $2.60 to $22.5 following consummation of the business combination.
| ● | SPAC (Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II), Target (ARKO Holdings Ltd.). |
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II completed its IPO on June 7, 2019 for 40,250,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-third of one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $402,500,000. The merger with ARKO Holdings Ltd. closed on December 22, 2020. ARKO Holdings trades on NASDAQ under the symbol “ARKO”, and the price of the common stock has ranged from $3.75 to $10.75 following consummation of the business combination
| ● | SPAC (Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III), Target (Biote Holdings, LLC). |
| Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III consummated its IPO on March 4, 2021 for 30,000,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $300,000,000. The underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option in for an additional 1,750,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $317,500,000. The merger with Biote Holdings, LLC closed on May 26, 2022. Biote Holdings trades on NASDAQ under the symbol “BTMD”, and the price of the common stock has ranged from $3.00 to $8.15 following consummation of the business combination. |
| ● | SPAC (Haymaker Acquisition Corp. IV). |
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. IV filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC on February 24, 2022; however, the registration statement was not declared effective, no securities were issued or sold thereunder, and the registration statement was subsequently withdrawn on December 13, 2022.
| ● | SPAC (Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4). |
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4 (“Haymaker 4”) consummated its IPO on July 26, 2023 for 20,000,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $200,000,000. The underwriters fully exercised their over-allotment option in for an additional 3,000,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $230,000,000. In early 2025, Haymaker 4 entered into a non-binding letter of intent for a potential business combination with an infrastructure materials company. A definitive agreement has not yet been signed.
| ● | SPAC (Roth CH Acquisition Co.) |
Roth CH Acquisition Co. consummated its initial public offering on November 1, 2022, issuing 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one half of one redeemable warrant. The underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full for an additional 3,000,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $230,000,000. In April 2024, the company voluntarily delisted its Class A Ordinary Shares, Units, and Warrants from the Nasdaq Global Market, returned funds in its trust account to the public shareholders of the company, while also permitting shareholders to retain 10% of their shares. On January 29, 2025, the company announced that it was in the process of completing a business combination with Sharon AI, Inc., business focused on Artificial Intelligence, Cloud GPU Compute Infrastructure, and Data Storage and subsequently filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with respect to such transaction in June 2025.
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| ● | SPAC (AF Acquisition Corp.) |
AF Acquisition Corp. consummated its initial public offering on March 19, 2021, issuing 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one third of one redeemable warrant. The underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option for an additional 2,400,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $224,000,000. AF Acquisition Corp. did not complete a business combination and liquidated on December 23, 2022.
| ● | SPAC (Berto Acquisition Corp.) |
Berto Acquisition Corp. (“Berto”) consummated its initial public offering on April 30, 2025, issuing 26,100,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one half of one redeemable warrant. The underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full for an additional 3,915,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $300,150,000. Vikas Mittal was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Berto Acquisition Corp. on June 13, 2025. Berto is currently seeking a target.
Prior SPACs Where Meteora acted as Advisor-
| ● | SPAC (Globa Terra Acquisition Corp.) |
Globa Terra Acquisition Corp. filed its Form S-1 on April 16, 2025, proposing an IPO of 15,217,000 million units at $10.00 per unit to raise approximately $152,170,000; each unit comprises one share of Class A common stock, three-fourths of one redeemable warrant and one right to receive one-twentieth (1/20) of an ordinary share. Globa Terra Acquisition Corp. has not yet completed its IPO.
| ● | SPAC (GigCapital7 Corp.) |
GigCapital 7 Corp. consummated its initial public offering on August 29, 2024, issuing 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one class A ordinary share and one redeemable warrant. GigCapital7 Corp. is currently seeking a target.
| ● | SPAC (GigCapital5, Inc.) |
GigCapital5, Inc. consummated its initial public offering on September 24, 2021, issuing 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one redeemable warrant. The underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full for an additional 3,000,000 units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $230,000,000. GigCapital5, Inc. closed its merger with QT Imaging, Inc. on March 4, 2024. QT Imaging Holdings, Inc. trades on the OTC under the symbol “QTIH”, and the price of the common stock has ranged from $0.30 to $5.00 following consummation of the business combination.
| ● | SPAC (EGH Acquisition Corp.) |
EGH Acquisition Corp. consummated its initial public offering on May 9, 2025, issuing 15,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one class A ordinary share and one right to receive one tenth (1/10) of a Class A ordinary share. EGH Acquisition Corp. is currently seeking a target.
However, in recent years, a number of target businesses have underperformed financially post-business combination with a SPAC. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors associated with a target business or that the price of the shares of the combined entity post-business combination will increase.
Our Acquisition Process
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, inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information about the target and its industry which will be made available to us. If we determine to move forward with a particular target, we will proceed to structure and negotiate the terms of the business combination transaction.
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The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds available for us to use to complete another business combination.
Our ability to identify and evaluate a target company may be impacted by significant competition among other SPACs in pursuing a business combination transaction candidate and the significant competition may impact the attractiveness of the acquisition terms that we will be able to negotiate.
We have not selected any business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Our Sponsor and directors and officers are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a business similar to ours. These entities may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. Subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, none of the members of our management team have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. Our management team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our Sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors (including other special purpose acquisition companies), may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law and any other applicable fiduciary duties.
Our directors and officers presently have, 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. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, or in the case of a non-compete restriction, may not present such opportunity to us at all, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Our directors and officers are also not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
For example, Mr. Binder is the co-Founder of CIM and Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager for CIM and Mr. Cassel is the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIM. CIM is an SEC-registered investment management firm, and each of Mr. Binder and Mr. Cassel owes fiduciary duties to CIM. In addition, certain of our officers and directors are officers and directors of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors. Our Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from Sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. Any other special purpose acquisition company may also have terms that are the same or different than our terms, including terms that are more favorable to its investors and/or potential target businesses. Moreover, entities in which our directors and officers are affiliated with may enter into agreements or other arrangements with businesses, which agreements or arrangements may limit or restrict our ability to enter into a business combination with such business.
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. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to the Company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Certain of our directors and officers 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 determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.”
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Our Sponsor is managed by its two directors, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 51% by Samara CSLM LLC and (ii) 49% by Consilium Investment Capital Inc. Consilium Investment Capital Inc. is legally and beneficially owned 50% by Mr. Cassel and 50% by Mr. Binder. Samara CSLM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is legally and beneficially owned solely by Vikas Mittal and his immediate family (Vik Mittal is also the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora). As a result, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Binder, and Mr. Mittal may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including the appointment and removal of our directors, amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our Sponsor purchases any Class A ordinary shares in this offering or in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over such actions. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company”.
Consilium and Meteora may become aware of a potential business combination opportunity that may be an attractive opportunity for our Company. Consilium, Meteora, and our Company may each assess opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. In particular, CIM manages two products targeted at Frontier Growth Markets. The Fund focuses on listed equities opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. EOF focuses on less liquid opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets, and targets a three-year time horizon to extract value from companies that are relatively unknown. Meteora is an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments. Neither Meteora nor Consilium is under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services to our Company. Meteora and Consilium’s role with respect to our Company is expected to be advisory in nature. Consilium may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to its investment vehicles and to companies in which Consilium has invested. Similarly, Meteora may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to its clients and to companies in which Meteora has invested. As a result, Consilium and Meteora may each have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to certain Consilium funds, other investment vehicles or other entities before other parties, including our Company. Additionally, certain companies in which Consilium or Meteora has invested may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest because Consilium may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction.
We believe that any such potential conflicts of interest of Consilium and Meteora will be naturally mitigated by the differing nature of targets that Consilium and Meteora typically considers most attractive for its activities and the types of initial business combination opportunities that we expect to be most attractive for our Company.
Our advisory board members are not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services for our Company. Such advisors’ roles with respect to our Company are expected to be advisory in nature. Our advisory board members may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to certain companies but do not have any fiduciary obligations to our Company. As a result, our advisory board members may have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to certain other companies before our Company. Additionally, certain companies affiliated with our advisory board members may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest because our advisory board members may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Our advisory board members are not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services for our Company.”
Past experience or performance of our team and our advisory board and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our team or our advisory board or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance. See “Risk Factor — Past performance of Consilium, Meteora, our team and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the Company.” No member of our management team has any experience operating a special purpose acquisition company.
We do not believe, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our Sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our Sponsor or its affiliates:
| Entity/Individual | Amount of
Compensation to be Received or Securities Issued or to be Issued |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid | ||
| CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd | $30,000 per month | Office space, administrative and shared personnel support services | ||
| CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd | 7,666,667 Class B Ordinary Shares* | $25,000 | ||
| 500,000 Private Units to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering (or 575,000 Private Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) | $5,000,000 (or $5,750,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) | |||
| Up to $300,000 | Repayment of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses. | |||
| Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans, which loans may be convertible into units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit | Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination | |||
| Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | Services in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
| * | Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. |
Because our Sponsor (and upon the closing of the Securities Transfer Agreement, each of the Company’s director nominees Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew) acquired the founder shares at a nominal price ($0.003 per share), 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 (including those issued in connection with an increase in the size of the offering) may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares that may ultimately result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. Additionally, our public shareholders may experience dilution from the exercise of the 387,500 private warrants (408,125 private warrants if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) that compose part of the private units to be purchased by our Sponsor simultaneously with the closing of this offering as well as conversion of any working capital loans into units, if elected by the Sponsor or by another person or entity who made such working capital loans. The exercise of the private warrants that compose part of the private units would cause the actual dilution to the public shareholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise for warrants is utilized. See the sections titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor 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 Sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our ordinary shares to materially decline” and “Dilution.”
Status as a Public Company
After this offering, we believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly traded company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering. We believe that target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is less expensive, while offering greater certainty of execution than a traditional initial public offering. During an initial public offering, there are typically expenses incurred in marketing, which would be costlier than a business combination with us. Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is approved by our shareholders (if applicable) and the transaction is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriter’s ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented management.
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Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private units, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including 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, other securities issuances, or a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
We will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to convert their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our shareholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable, if any), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. Unlike other blank check companies which require shareholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related conversions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC, which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only, if we seek shareholder approval, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of Class A ordinary shares that are voted at a shareholder meeting held to consider the initial business combination.
We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering or until such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve to consummate an initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, holders of public shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less income taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law.
If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within such time period, and do not hold a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, from the closing of this offering, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and net of interest that may be used by us to cover 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 the public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law and as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. We expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.00 per Class A ordinary share (regardless of whether or not the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option), without taking into account any interest earned on such funds. However, we cannot assure you that we will in fact be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors, which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders.
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If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, we do not expect that it will be necessary to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of this offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination or fail to obtain shareholder approval to extend the completion window, our Sponsor’s investment in our founder shares and our private units will be worthless.
Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our Board of Directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our Board of Directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the Board of Directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public shareholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our Board of Directors is not able independently to determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we may, in our sole discretion, obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it likely that our board of directors will 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. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors. However, unless we consummate our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, our Board of Directors is not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view.
As described below adjacent to the caption “—The Offering — Offering proceeds to be held in the trust account,” the Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the units be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private units described in this prospectus, $200,000,000, or $230,000,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be placed in a U.S. based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended business combination
We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our 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 valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test, as described above.
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We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors or non-managing Sponsor investors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, officers or directors or non-managing Sponsor investors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our Sponsor (including its members), officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Members of our management team and our independent directors will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private 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 Sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (as may be extended by shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination), or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private units may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our Sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
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. 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 law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer, among other persons, 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 (a) may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other or (b) the presentation of which would breach an existing legal obligation of a director or officer to any other entity. As a result, the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In addition, our Sponsor and our officers and directors may Sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our Sponsor, officers and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target, which could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
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Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter significant 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), which competition may impact the attractiveness of the acquisition terms that we will be able to negotiate. 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 financial, technical, human and other resources that are similar to or greater 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 the exercise of redemption rights by our public shareholders may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our issued and outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either or both of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination. See “Risk Factors — 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.”
Potential Additional Financings
We may need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our 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 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.
Company Status and Other Information
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 (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.
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In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
Pursuant to a letter agreement to be entered with us, each of our Sponsor, directors, and officers has agreed to restrictions on its ability to transfer, assign, or sell the founder shares and private units, as summarized in the table below.
| Subject Securities | Expiration Date | Natural Persons and Entities Subject to Restrictions |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions | |||
| Founder Shares | The earlier of (A) six months after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) 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. | CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd Charles T. Cassel III Jonathan M. Binder Vikas Mittal Christopher Bradley, Mathew August, Brian Rudick, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew |
Transfers permitted (a) to our or CCM’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any affiliate or family member of any of our or CCM’s officers, directors, advisors or consultants, any members or partners of the Sponsor or their affiliates and funds and accounts advised by such members or partners, any affiliates of the Sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon the death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; |
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| Subject Securities | Expiration Date | Natural Persons and Entities Subject to Restrictions |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions | |||
| (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement, in connection with an extension of the completion window or in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the units, shares or warrants were originally purchased; (f) pro rata distributions from our Sponsor or CCM to its respective members, partners or shareholders pursuant to our Sponsor’s or CCM’s limited liability company agreement or other charter documents; (g) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or our Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our Sponsor or upon dissolution of CCM, (h) in the event of our liquidation prior to our consummation of our initial business combination; (i) in the event that, subsequent to our consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property or (j) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (g); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (g) and clause (j) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements. In addition, the formation agreement of our Sponsor provides that its interests may only be transferred to a member’s affiliates (which affiliates shall include any member’s owners of an equity interest, direct investors, members, or limited partners, as the case may be), immediate family, or to a trust, the primary beneficiary(ies) of which is a member or members of such member’s immediate family. | ||||||
| Private Units | 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination | CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd Charles T. Cassel III Jonathan M. Binder Vikas Mittal, Christopher Bradley, Mathew August, Brian Rudick, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew |
Same as above. |
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| Subject Securities | Expiration Date | Natural Persons and Entities Subject to Restrictions |
Exceptions to Transfer Restrictions | |||
| 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 from the date of this prospectus | CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd, Charles T. Cassel III Jonathan M. Binder, Vikas Mittal, Christopher Bradley, Mathew August, Brian Rudick, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew |
The underwriter in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. Our Sponsor, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private units pursuant to the letter agreement described in the immediately preceding paragraphs. |
Up to 1,000,000 of the founder shares will be surrendered for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. In addition, in order to facilitate our initial business combination or for any other reason determined by our Sponsor in its sole discretion, our Sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our founder shares, private units or any of our other securities, including for no consideration, as well as subject any such securities to earn-outs or other restrictions, or otherwise amend the terms of any such securities or enter into any other arrangements with respect to any such securities. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon 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 as set forth therein.
Corporate Information
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated on July 26, 2024 under the name “CSLM Acquisition Corporation II, Ltd”, and re-named “CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd” by special resolution, on May 23, 2025. Our executive offices are located at 2400 E. Commercial Boulevard, Suite 900, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 and our telephone number is (954) 315-9380. 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 (As 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 dividends 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. Our corporate website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to invest in our securities.
In addition, after completion of this offering and prior to the consummation of our business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and the removal of our directors. As a result, Nasdaq will consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the appointment and removal of our of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. We currently do not intend to rely on the “controlled company” exemption, but may do so in the future. Accordingly, if we choose to do so, you will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.
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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.”
| Securities offered | 20,000,000 units (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of: |
| ● | one Class A ordinary share; and |
| ● | one-half (1/2) of one warrant to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. |
| Listing of our securities and proposed symbols | We anticipate that the units, as well as the Class A ordinary shares and warrants, underlying the units (once they begin separate trading), will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “KOYNU,” “KOYN,” “and “KOYNW,” respectively. | |
| Trading commencement and separation of the Class A Ordinary Shares, and Warrants | Each of the units, Class A ordinary shares, and warrants may trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriter determines that an earlier date is acceptable. In no event will the underwriter allow separate trading of our Class A ordinary shares, and warrants until we file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC with an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. Once our Class A ordinary shares, and warrants commence separate trading, the holders thereof 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. | |
| We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, including an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering, promptly upon the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place two business days from the date the units commence trading. If the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over- allotment option. We will also include in the initial Current Report, or any amendment thereto or subsequent filing, as applicable, information indicating if the underwriter has allowed separate trading of the Class A ordinary shares, and warrants prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus. |
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Units:
| Issued and outstanding before this offering: | 0 units | |
| Number to be sold in private placement simultaneously with this offering: | 775,000 | |
| Issued and outstanding after this offering and the concurrent private placement: | 20,775,000 units(1) |
Ordinary shares:
| Issued and outstanding before this offering: | 6,666,667 shares(2) |
| Number included in the private units to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering: | 775,000 | |
| Issued and outstanding after this offering and the concurrent private placement: | 27,441,667 shares(3) |
| (1) | Assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. | |
| (2) | Includes 6,666,667 founder shares issued to the Sponsor (assumes the surrender for no consideration of 1,000,000 founder shares if the over-allotment option is not exercised). Founder shares are currently classified as Class B ordinary shares, which shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of a holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described below adjacent to the caption “Conversion of founder shares and anti-dilution rights” and in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. | |
| (3) | Assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, and includes, accordingly, (i) an aggregate of 20,000,000 public shares, (ii) an aggregate of 6,666,667 founder shares purchased by our Sponsor, and (iii) an aggregate of 775,000 private shares underlying 775,000 private units issued to the Sponsor and the underwriter. | |
| (4) | Assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, and includes, accordingly, (i) 10,000,000 public warrants and (ii) 387,500 private warrants included in 775,000 private units to be purchased by the Sponsor and underwriter concurrently with this offering. |
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Warrants:
Outstanding before this offering |
0 warrants | |
| Number of warrants included in the private units to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering | 387,500 |
| Outstanding after this offering and the concurrent private placement | 10,387,500 warrants(8) |
| Exercisability | Each whole warrant is exercisable for one Class A ordinary share. The warrants may only be exercisable for whole Class A ordinary shares. |
| Exercise price | $11.50 per share of Class A ordinary share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. 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 Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by them prior to such issuance), (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 20 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, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the greater of (i) the Market Value or (ii) the price at which we issue the additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities. On the exercise of any warrant, the exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account. |
| We are not registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants (the “warrant shares”) at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration under the Securities Act of the warrant shares and thereafter use our best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration of the warrants. No warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares and a current prospectus relating thereto. |
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| If a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares is not effective within 60 days following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, commencing on the 61st day until such time as there is such an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain such an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act. In this circumstance, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering warrants exercisable for the 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 such warrants and the difference between the exercise price of such warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” means the average reported last sale price of the Class A ordinary shares for the ten trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. |
| Exercise period | The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination |
| The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants, and only whole warrants 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 of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the warrant holder. |
| Redemption of Warrants | Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants: |
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| ● | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period 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 unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so redeemed is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those warrant shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. 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. |
| If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder may exercise his, her or its warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A ordinary shares may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $11.50 exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued. |
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| The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants. |
| 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 making such determination, 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 warrant shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. In such event, the 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 warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so exercised, and the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the fair market value by (y) the fair market value. |
| No fractional Class A ordinary share will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the holder. |
Founder Shares |
Our Sponsor has acquired 7,666,667 founder shares from us for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.003 per share, of which up to 1,000,000 founder shares remain subject to surrender for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. As a result, as of the date of this prospectus, we have 7,666,667 founder shares outstanding (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option). Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
Subject to each non-managing Sponsor investor indirectly purchasing, through the Class A ordinary shares, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the Sponsor will issue securities at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing Sponsor investors reflecting interests in an aggregate of 400,000 founder shares held by the Sponsor. |
| The number of founder shares, and the surrender mechanism underlying the founder shares, has been determined in order to ensure that the founder shares will collectively represent 25% of the outstanding ordinary shares (excluding any shares underlying the private units) upon completion of this offering and the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, if any. 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, a share contribution back to capital, or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering, in such amount as to maintain the collective ownership of the initial shareholders, prior to this offering at approximately 25% of our issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares (excluding any shares underlying the private units) upon the consummation of this offering. Such issuance will significantly dilute the equity interest of our other shareholders. Prior to the investment in the Company of an aggregate of $25,000 by our Sponsor, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. |
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| The founder shares are identical to the Class A ordinary shares being sold in this offering, except that: |
| ● | only holders of the founder shares have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of our directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination (by a majority of votes cast by the holders of the founder shares); |
| ● | in a vote to transfer the Company by way of continuation to a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to the completion of our initial business combination (which requires a special resolution, being the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders of the issued shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting of the Company), only holders of our founder shares shall carry the right to vote; |
| ● | the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; |
| ● | as described below adjacent to the caption “Voting arrangements with our Sponsor, non-managing Sponsor investors and related parties,” our initial shareholders will each enter into agreements with us, pursuant to which they will agree: (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination or a tender offer conducted prior to a business combination or in connection with it; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; |
| ● | the founder shares will automatically convert into our Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described below adjacent to the caption “Conversion of founder shares and anti-dilution rights” and in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; and | |||
| ● | the founder shares and private shares are entitled to registration rights. | |||
| The non-managing Sponsor investors are not granted any shareholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to our other public shareholders, and will only be issued Class A ordinary shares in the Sponsor, with no right to control the Sponsor or vote or dispose of any securities held by the Sponsor, including the founder shares and the private units held by the Sponsor. The non-managing Sponsor investors 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, (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 non-managing Sponsor investors will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the public units they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public shareholders. However, the non-managing Sponsor investors will 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 units, as further discussed in this prospectus. | ||||
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The interests of the shareholders of the Sponsor are denominated in three classes of ordinary shares: (i) class A ordinary shares representing non-voting interests in the founder shares (ii) class B ordinary shares that will represent a non-voting interest in the private units, and (iii) Class C ordinary shares that represent a voting interest but no economic interest. All members of the Sponsor, including the managing member of the Sponsor, and any non-managing Sponsor investor that may join the Sponsor concurrently with this offering will hold Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares representing their proportional interest in the founder shares and private units, respectively. Pursuant to an agreement of all members of the Sponsor, the management and control of the Sponsor is vested exclusively with Vikas Mittal and Charles T. Cassel III, the directors of the Sponsor, without any voting, veto, consent or other participation rights by any non-managing shareholders regardless of their unit ownership. All matters submitted to a vote by the directors will require the affirmative vote of the class C ordinary shares of the Sponsor which are held by Samara CSLM LLC and Consilium Investment Capital Inc., without regard to any ordinary shares held by any non-managing members. As a result, non-managing Sponsor investors will have no right to control the Sponsor, or participate in any decision regarding the disposal of any security held by the Sponsor, or otherwise. |
| Private Units | Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering (or 575,000 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and our underwriter has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per private unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. | |
| A portion of the purchase price of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering to be held in the trust account described below. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). |
The private units will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination. A portion of the purchase price of the private units will be added to the proceeds from this offering to be held in the trust account. The private units will be identical to the units sold in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private units (including the component securities as well as any securities underlying those component securities) (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) will be entitled to registration rights. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, the private units will expire worthless.
The non-managing Sponsor investors have indicated an interest to indirectly purchase, through the purchase of the Sponsor’s securities, an aggregate of 100,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per unit ($1,000,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each non-managing Sponsor investor indirectly purchasing, through securities, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the Sponsor will issue securities at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing Sponsor investors reflecting interests in an aggregate of 400,000 founder shares held by the Sponsor. The non-managing Sponsor investors will not be subject to transfer restrictions or a lock-up agreement on any public securities that they may purchase in this offering pursuant to the expressions of interest described below or otherwise. Except in certain limited circumstances, no member of the Sponsor (including the non-managing Sponsor investors) may Transfer all or any portion of its ordinary shares in the Sponsor. For more information, see “Principal Shareholders”. |
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| Sponsor’s Securities and Compensation | The table below summarizes (i) the amount of founder shares and private units issued or to be issued to the Sponsor in connection with this offering and the price paid or to be paid by the Sponsor for such securities, and (ii) the main items of compensation received or to be received by the Sponsor or our affiliates: |
| Description | Price Paid or Payable | |||||
| Number of founder shares | 7,666,667 founder shares (of which 1,000,000 are subject to surrender for no consideration to the extent the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option)* | $0.003 per share | ||||
| Number of private units | 500,000 private units (or 575,000 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) | $10.00 per private unit | ||||
| Office space and general and administrative services | Monthly payments to our Sponsor | $30,000 per month | ||||
| Working Capital Loans | Up to $1,500,000 convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit | Not applicable |
| | |||
| * | Class B ordinary shares, will be convertible at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis or will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination at a ratio such that 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 sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon the consummation of this offering, plus (ii) the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities (as defined herein) or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial business combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent shares issued to our Sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company. In no event will the Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one-to-one. The Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of our Class B ordinary shares may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares that may ultimately result in an issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a share capitalization or a share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial shareholders, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (not including the Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the private units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private warrants). Such issuance will significantly dilute the equity interest of our other shareholders. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. | ||
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| As described below adjacent to the caption “Conversion of founder shares and anti-dilution rights,” the founder shares and Class A ordinary shares issuable in connection with the conversion of the founder shares (including those issued in connection with an increase in the size of the offering) may result in material dilution to our public shareholders due to the nominal price of $0.003 per founder share at which our Sponsor purchased the founder shares and/or 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. Our initial shareholders or 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. For more information also see below adjacent to the caption “Limited payments to insiders.” |
| Transfer restrictions applicable to founder shares and private units | Except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders,” our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their respective founder shares and private units that they may hold until the date that is (i) in the case of the founder shares, the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property, and (ii) in the case of the private units or any securities underlying the private units, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. |
Except in certain limited circumstances, no member of the Sponsor (including the non-managing Sponsor investors) may sell, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage, charge, hypothecate, exchange or otherwise dispose, directly or indirectly, (a “Transfer”) all or any portion of its ordinary shares in the Sponsor. For more information, see “Principal Shareholders”. |
| Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares and private units. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the “lock-up.” |
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| Conversion of founder shares and anti-dilution rights | Subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein, the founder shares, which are designated as Class B ordinary shares, will be convertible at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis or will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination at a ratio such that 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 sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option by the underwriter and including any Class A ordinary shares that may have been issued on a one-for-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at the option of the holder thereof prior to the initial business combination pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) upon the consummation of this offering, plus (ii) the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities (as defined herein) or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial business combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent shares issued to our Sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company The shares redeemed in connection with any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will not be subtracted from the number of shares used to determine the 25% share interest. Any conversion of Class B ordinary shares described herein will take effect as a compulsory redemption of Class B ordinary shares and an issuance of Class A ordinary shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law. In no event will the Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one-to-one. |
| The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A ordinary shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, a private placement of equity or debt. |
| Voting arrangements with our Sponsor, non-managing Sponsor investors and related parties | Our initial shareholders will each enter into agreements with us, pursuant to which they will agree: (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination or a tender offer conducted prior to a business combination or in connection with it; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. If we submit an initial business combination to our shareholders for a vote, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the ordinary shares, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, voted at a shareholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination. Our initial shareholders have agreed to vote any Class A and Class B ordinary shares held by them in favor of such initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares and private shares, we would need approximately 6,279,167 public shares, or approximately 31.40% of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 1,000,000 founder shares have been forfeited) in order to have such initial business combination approved. Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, vote their shares, we will not need any public shares in addition to our founder shares and the private shares held by our Sponsor to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. In addition Meteora, for which Mr. Mittal serves as the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer, Consilium or their affiliates may also purchase additional public shares which they have agreed to vote in favor of a transaction aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction. |
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| Offering proceeds to be held in the trust account | The Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the units be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private units described in this prospectus, $200,000,000, $230,000,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be placed in a U.S. based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended business |
| Except as set forth below, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period; or (3) our redemption of our public shares in connection with the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing our pre-initial business combination activity and related shareholders’ rights. Therefore, unless and until our initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement to acquire a target business. 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. |
| Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $11,250,000 of interest annually (or $12,937,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (assuming an interest rate of 4.50% per year). Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from: |
| ● | that portion of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account and cash held outside the trust account before the offering, which will be approximately $2,973,324 in working capital after the payment of approximately $776,676 in offering expenses relating to this offering (assuming that the over-allotment has not been exercised); and |
| ● | any loans or additional investments from our Sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to loan 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. |
| Limited payments to insiders | There will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our Sponsor, officers and directors, or their affiliates prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the following payments, none of which will be made from that portion of the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units held in the trust account prior to the consummation of our initial business combination: |
| ● | Repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses; |
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| ● | payment to our Sponsor of a total of $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support (See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Administrative Services Agreement”); |
| ● | Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and |
| ● | Repayment of loans which may be made by our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. | |||
| ● | We may also pay finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments to our Sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination but no such fees are currently contemplated. |
| These payments may be funded using that portion of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith. |
| Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or our or any of their affiliates. |
| Audit Committee | Prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, we will have established and will maintain an audit committee (which will be composed entirely of independent directors) to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see section “Management—Committees of the Board of Directors—Audit Committee.” |
| Election of directors; Voting rights | Except as set forth below, 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 shareholders. Unless specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or as required by the Companies Act or stock exchange rules, a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which requires the affirmative vote of at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority (or such higher approval threshold as specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given, is generally required to approve any matter voted on by our shareholders. Approval of certain actions require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, which (except as specified below) requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting, 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 and the removal of our directors, meaning, following our initial business combination, the holders of more than 50% of our ordinary shares voted for the appointment and the removal of our directors can elect all of the directors. |
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Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of directors (by a majority of votes cast by the holders of the founder shares). Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. Further, prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on transferring the Company by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (which requires a special resolution, being the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders of the issued shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting of the Company) (including any special resolution required to amend the constitutional documents of the Company or to adopt new constitutional documents of the Company, in each case, as a result of the Company approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands) and, as a result, our initial shareholders will be able to approve any such proposal without the vote of any other shareholder. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by holders representing at least two-thirds of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares. 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 or the applicable rules of Nasdaq then in effect, holders of our founder shares and private shares and holders of our public shares will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote. | ||
| Conditions to completing our initial business combination | There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. The Nasdaq rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in trust (less any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. |
| If our Board of Directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we may obtain an opinion, in our sole discretion, from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or from another independent entity. However, unless we consummate our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, our Board of Directors is not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination transaction. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test; provided that in the event that our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. |
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| Permitted purchases of public shares by our affiliates | If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase shares of our Class A ordinary shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Please see “Proposed Business—Initial Business Combination” for a description of how such persons will determine from which shareholders to seek to acquire shares. If our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. In the event our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates determine to make any such purchases at the time of a shareholder vote relating to our initial business combination, such purchases could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase Class A ordinary shares in such transactions. If any of our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates engages in such transactions, they will not make 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). |
| Subsequent to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to (1) refrain from purchasing securities during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and (2) clear all trades with our legal counsel prior to execution. We cannot currently determine whether any of our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as that would be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to, the timing and size of any such purchase. Depending on the circumstances, any of our insiders may decide to make purchases of our Class A ordinary shares pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or may determine that acting pursuant to such a plan is not required under the Exchange Act. | ||||
We do not currently anticipate that purchases of our Class A ordinary shares by any of our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates, 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. None of our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will purchase Class A ordinary shares if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.
Additionally, in the event our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public shareholders such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following: | ||||
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; | |||
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| ● | if our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; | |||
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; | |||
| ● | our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and | |||
| ● | we would disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K, before our general meeting of shareholders to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: | |||
| ● | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price; | |||
| ● | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; | |||
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; | |||
| ● | the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and | |||
| ● | the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. | |||
The purpose of any such transaction 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. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. Please see “Risk Factors — Purchases of public shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions by our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may make it difficult for us to maintain the listing of our public shares on Nasdaq following the consummation of an initial business combination. | ||||
| Redemption rights for public shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination | We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, 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 as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, if any), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. |
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| The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our initial shareholders have entered into agreements with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. The non-managing sponsor investors 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, (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 non-managing sponsor investors will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the public units they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public shareholders. However, the non-managing sponsor investors will 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 as further discussed in this prospectus. |
| Manner of conducting redemptions | We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (1) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (2) 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 where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares or seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would require shareholder approval. We currently intend to conduct redemptions in connection with a shareholder vote unless shareholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule or we choose to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC for business or other reasons. |
| If a shareholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association: |
| ● | 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. |
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| Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our Sponsor, directors and executive officers will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to purchase Class A ordinary shares in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. |
| 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 a specified number of public shares. 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. |
| If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, 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. |
| We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public shareholders at least 20 days prior to the shareholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such shareholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any shareholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our Nasdaq listings or Exchange Act registration. |
| If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the ordinary shares, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, voted at a shareholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination. In such case, pursuant to the terms of agreements entered into with us, our initial shareholders will agree (and any of their permitted transferees will agree) to vote their founder shares and private shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. To the extent that our initial shareholders acquire any public shares after we publicly announce our intention to engage in a proposed business combination, such initial shareholders have agreed pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement that they will not vote such shares for or against such business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares and private shares that our Sponsor, the underwriter, and the non-managing sponsor investors have committed to purchase (as described above), we would need approximately 6,279,167 public shares, or approximately 31.40% of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 1,000,000 founder shares have been surrendered for no consideration) in order to have such initial business combination approved. Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, vote their shares, we will not need any public shares in addition to our founder shares and the private shares held by our Sponsor to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. These 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 their public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require that at least five clear days’ notice will be given of any such shareholder meeting. |
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| Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. 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 would not complete the business combination or redeem any Class A ordinary shares, and all Class A ordinary shares submitted for redemption would be returned to the holders thereof. |
| Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights | We may require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two (2) business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve our initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, rather than simply voting against the initial business combination. The tender offer or proxy materials, 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. |
| Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding more than 15% of the public shares sold in this offering if we hold a shareholder vote | Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the public shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent. 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. Absent this provision, a public shareholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us, our Sponsor or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our shareholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of 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 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination. |
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| Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our charter documents | Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that amendments to any its provisions relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related shareholder rights, as well as any other provision of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended if approved by holders of a majority of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares, subject to applicable stock exchange rules. If an amendment to any such provision is approved by the requisite shareholder vote, then the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended. |
| After the completion of this offering, and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may not issue any additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account or vote on an initial business combination, on any pre-business combination activity or on any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related shareholders’ rights. |
| Our Sponsor, executive officers and directors (and any of their permitted transferees), who will beneficially own approximately 25% of our outstanding ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase public units in this offering and that the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option and excluding any shares underlying the private units), 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; provided, that, each of them has agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering 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 thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses)), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, they may purchase public shares in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction. |
| Our initial shareholders will enter into agreements with us pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares held by them in connection with any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related shareholders’ rights. |
| Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination | On the completion of our initial business combination, the funds held in the trust account will be used to pay amounts due to any public shareholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination,” to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. |
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| Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination | We will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination (as such period may be extended by shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination). If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
| 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 net tangible assets or minimum cash requirements. 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 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 and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. 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 24-month time frame. |
| Conflicts of interest | Our team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our Sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us, 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 (a) may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other or (b) the presentation of which would breach an existing legal obligation of a director or officer to any other entity. However, because the other entities to which our officers and directors currently owe fiduciary duties or contractual obligations are not themselves in the business of engaging in business combinations, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to the Company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity. For more information, see the section entitled “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest.” |
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Our directors and officers presently have, 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. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, or in the case of a non-compete restriction, may not present such opportunity to us at all. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer, among other persons, 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 (a) may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other or (b) the presentation of which would breach an existing legal obligation of a director or officer to any other entity. As a result, the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our sponsor, officers or directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Our sponsor, officers and directors 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 future blank check companies. As a result, our sponsor, officers and directors may pursue business combinations for blank check companies that it may sponsor in any order, which could result in its more recent blank check companies completing business combinations prior to its blank check companies that were launched earlier. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target.
Our sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination, including the fact that they may lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Upon the closing of this offering, our sponsor will have invested in us an aggregate of $5,025,000 (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the founder shares (or approximately $0.003 per share) and the $5,000,000 purchase price for the private units (or $10.00 per unit). Accordingly, our management team may be more willing to pursue a business combination with a riskier or less-established target business than would be the case if our sponsor had paid the same per share price for the founder shares as our public shareholders paid for their public shares, as our sponsor and members of our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. These interests of our officers and directors may affect the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to a business combination in a way that conflicts with the interests of our public shareholders. |
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Additionally, the personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and pursuing an initial business combination or completing our initial business combination. The different timelines of competing business combinations could cause our directors and officers to prioritize a different business combination over finding a suitable acquisition target for our business combination. For example, if two targets are being evaluated by our management team, and one is more stable and has a better risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, but may take a longer time to diligence and go through the business combination process, while the other has a less favorable risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, but would be easier, quicker and more certain to guide through the business combination process, our management team may decide to choose what they believe to be the quicker and more certain path despite its less favorable risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, as our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated a business combination. Additionally, if members of our management team form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination, the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to the business combinations of such other special purpose acquisition companies or ventures, and the level of attention paid to by members of our management team to them versus the level of attention paid to us may conflict in a way that is unfavorable to us. Consequently, our directors’ and executive officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest, which could negatively impact the timing for a business combination.
In addition to the above, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including selecting a business combination target and monitoring the related due diligence. | ||
Additionally, our sponsor and executive officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Further, our sponsor and executive officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares held by them if we are unable to complete our initial business combination and do not hold a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private units may expire worthless.
With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares, purchased by our sponsor for an aggregate of $25,000, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until six months after the completion of our initial business combination. With certain limited exceptions, the private units (including the Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the private units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private warrants) and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such warrants, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our sponsor and executive officers and directors may directly or indirectly own ordinary shares and warrants following this offering, our executive officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination because of their financial interest in completing an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve. |
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In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination.
Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team or one of their affiliates a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination. | ||
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or the non-managing sponsor investors, or any of their respective affiliates or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors or the non-managing sponsor investors or any of their respective affiliates; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public shareholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context. | ||
| We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Certain of our directors and officers 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 determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.” |
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| Our Sponsor is managed by its two directors, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 51% by Samara CSLM LLC and (ii) 49% by Consilium Investment Capital, Inc. Consilium Investment Capital, Inc. is owned 50% by Mr. Cassel and 50% by Mr. Binder. Samara CSLM LLC is solely owned by Vikas Mittal and his immediate family. As a result, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Binder, and Mr. Vittal may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including appointment and the removal of our directors, amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our Sponsor purchases any Class A ordinary shares in this offering or in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over such actions. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company.” Vikas Mittal and Jonathan M. Binder, serve on our board of directors. Mr. Cassel is our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mittal is our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. As a result, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Binder, Mr. Vittal and the Consilium affiliates may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, and their interests may differ from your interests. We do not believe, however, that the duties and obligations of the Consilium affiliates will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination | ||
Consilium may become aware of a potential business combination opportunity that may be an attractive opportunity for our Company. Consilium and our Company may each assess opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. In particular, CIM manages two products targeted at Frontier Growth Markets. The Fund focuses on listed equities opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. EOF focuses on less liquid opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets, and targets a three-year time horizon to extract value from companies that are relatively unknown. Consilium is not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services to our Company. Consilium’s role with respect to our company is expected to be advisory in nature. Consilium does not have any written agreement with the Company and is not being paid any fees. Consilium may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to its investment vehicles and to companies in which Consilium has invested. As a result, Consilium may have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to certain Consilium funds, other investment vehicles or other entities before other parties, including our Company. Additionally, certain companies in which Consilium or Meteora has invested may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest because Consilium may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction.
Neither CIM nor Meteora is being compensated by us for the general diligence, administrative, and advisory support it will provide in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor. | ||
| We believe that any such potential conflicts of interest of Consilium and Meteora will be naturally mitigated by the differing nature of targets that Consilium and Meteora typically consider most attractive for its activities and the types of initial business combination opportunities that we expect to be most attractive for our Company. |
| Other Funds | Funds and accounts managed by, or otherwise affiliated with, our Sponsor may participate in this offering and purchase units at the offering price. These affiliated funds are not obligated to participate, and the extent of their participation may be significant relative to the overall size of the offering. As a result, a substantial portion of the units sold in this offering may be held by affiliates of the Sponsor. This participation by affiliated entities may reduce the available public float of our securities, which could limit liquidity in the market for our units, Class A ordinary shares, or warrants following the offering. Additionally, because these affiliated purchasers may have different investment horizons, liquidity needs, or strategic interests than other investors, their participation may not align with the interests of unaffiliated public shareholders. Furthermore, to the extent that affiliated entities hold a material portion of the units and subsequently choose to redeem their public shares in connection with our initial business combination, this could reduce the amount of cash available to the combined company. |
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Summary of Risk Factors
We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our 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” beginning on page 55 of this prospectus.
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. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
| ● | We are a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. |
| ● | Past performance of Consilium, Meteora, our team and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the Company. |
| ● | Our public shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination. |
| ● | If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders, directors and officers have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote. |
| ● | Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of such business combination. |
| ● | If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our securities. |
| ● | Our Sponsor will control the appointment and removal of our board of directors until consummation of our initial business combination and will hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, it will appoint all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support. |
| ● | You will not be entitled to certain protections afforded to investors of some other blank check companies. |
| ● | You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares and/or warrants, potentially at a loss. |
| ● | If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we may depend on loans from our Sponsor or management team to fund our search, to pay our taxes and to complete our initial business combination. |
| ● | If we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months of the closing of this offering, our public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond such 24 months before redemption from our trust account. |
| ● | The grant of registration rights to our initial shareholders and their permitted transferees 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. |
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| ● | The ability of our public shareholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target and may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure. |
| ● | We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm regarding fairness. Consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. |
| ● | 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 Sponsor 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 Sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares to materially decline. |
| ● | We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public shareholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. |
| ● | We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers which may raise potential conflicts of interest. |
| ● | Since our initial shareholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination. |
| ● | Our directors and officers 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. |
| ● | Certain of our directors and officers 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 determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. |
| ● | Our directors, officers, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests. |
| ● | 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. |
| ● | 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 recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. |
| ● | We identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the future, or fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, which may result in material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations. |
| ● | The other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. |
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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 | |||||||
| (Audited) | ||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||
| Working (deficiency) capital(1) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | 2,724,917 | |||
| Total assets(2) | $ | 110,281 | $ | 202,943,917 | ||||
| Total liabilities(3) | $ | 139,688 | $ | 8,219,000 | ||||
| Value of ordinary share subject to possible redemption(4) | $ | - | $ | 200,000,000 | ||||
| Shareholders’ (deficit)(5) | $ | (29,407 | ) | $ | (5,275,083 | ) | ||
| (1) | The “as adjusted” calculation includes $2,973,324 of cash held outside the trust account, including $250,000 to be used to pay for director and officer liability insurance premiums, plus $(29,407) of actual shareholder’s deficit on March 31, 2025, less $219,000 of over-allotment liability. |
| (2) | The “as adjusted” calculation equals $200,000,000 of cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, plus $2,973,324 in cash held outside the trust account, including $250,000 to be used to pay for director and officer liability insurance premiums, plus $(29,407) of actual shareholder’s deficit on March 31, 2025. |
| (3) | The “as adjusted” calculation equals $8,000,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised, plus the over-allotment liability of $219,000. |
| (4) | The “as adjusted” calculation equals the 20,000,000 ordinary shares subject to possible redemption at $10.00 per share. |
| (5) | Excludes 20,000,000 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). |
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTOR SUMMARY
Certain statements contained in this prospectus, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and any other statements of a future or forward-looking nature, constitute “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “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 complete our initial business combination; |
| ● | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; |
| ● | our executive officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements; |
| ● | our potential ability to obtain the required funds to complete our offering and working capital expenses; |
| ● | our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination; |
| ● | our pool of prospective target businesses, including their industry and geographic location; |
| ● | the ability of our executive officers and directors to generate a number of potential investment opportunities; |
| ● | failure to list or delisting of our securities from Nasdaq or an inability to have our securities listed on Nasdaq following a business combination; |
| ● | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
| ● | the lack of a market for our securities; or |
| ● | our financial performance following this offering. |
| ● | our being a Company with no operating history and no revenues; |
| ● | our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses; |
| ● | our expectations around the performance of a prospective target business or businesses; |
| ● | target businesses, including the location and industry of such target businesses; |
| ● | the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; |
| ● | the availability to us of funds from interest income on the trust account balance; |
| ● | the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; |
| ● | the other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. |
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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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 public shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, and even if we hold a vote, holders of our founder shares will participate in such vote, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not hold a shareholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange rules or if we decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, the Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a shareholder meeting, but would still require us to obtain shareholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares, we would seek shareholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, 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. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares do not approve of the business combination we consummate. Please see the section entitled “Proposed Business—Initial Business Combination—Shareholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination” for additional information. Our Sponsor controls 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.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
We expect that our initial shareholders and their permitted transferees, will beneficially own approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares at the time of any such shareholder vote (assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering and excluding any shares underlying the private units). Our initial shareholders and management team also may from time to time purchase public shares prior to our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that, if we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination, such initial business combination will be approved if we receive a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which requires the affirmative vote of at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority (or such higher approval threshold as specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given. Our initial shareholders (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of the agreements to be entered into with us, to vote any Class A and Class B ordinary shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares and private shares held by our initial shareholders, we would need approximately 6,279,166 public shares, or approximately 31.39% of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 1,000,000 founder shares are forfeited) in order to have such initial business combination approved. In addition, Meteora, for which Mr. Mittal serves as the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer, Consilium or their affiliates may also purchase additional public shares which they have agreed to vote in favor of a transaction.
Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, vote their ordinary shares at a general meeting of the Company, we will not need any public shares in addition to our founder shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. However, if our initial business combination is structured as a statutory merger or consolidation with another company under Cayman Islands law, the approval of our initial business combination will require a special resolution, which requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the Company. 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 a special resolution will be passed, being the requisite shareholder approval for such initial business combination.
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Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of the initial business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of one or more target businesses. Because our Board of Directors may consummate our initial business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such shareholder vote. Accordingly, if we do not seek shareholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public shareholders in which we describe our initial business combination. 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 per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming shareholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.
The ability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to consummate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
If our initial business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, the redemption threshold may be limited. Alternatively, we may need to arrange third-party financing to help fund our business combination in case a larger percentage of shareholders exercise their redemption rights than we expect. If the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to the target or its shareholders to make up for the failure to satisfy a minimum cash requirement. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels.
Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the Class B ordinary shares results in the issuance 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. The effect of this dilution will be greater for shareholders who do not redeem. We may not be able to generate sufficient value from the completion of our initial business combination in order to overcome the dilutive impact of these and other factors, and, accordingly, you may incur a net loss on your investment. Please see “— The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor and advisor 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 above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.
The ability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your ordinary shares.
We may seek to enter into an initial business combination agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public shareholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the initial business combination.
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The ability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful increases. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
If we do not consummate an initial business combination within the completion window, our public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond such time before redemption from our trust account.
If we do not consummate an initial business combination within the completion window, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, as further described herein. Any redemption of public shareholders from the trust account will be effected automatically by function of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior to any voluntary winding up. 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, investors may be forced to wait beyond such time from the closing of this offering, before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them, and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless, prior thereto, we consummate our initial business combination or amend certain provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their Class A ordinary shares. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public shareholders be entitled to distributions if we do not complete our initial business combination and do not amend certain provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that, if we wind up for any other reason prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the trust account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to applicable Cayman Islands law.
The requirement that we maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash could increase the probability that our business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If, pursuant to the terms of our proposed business combination, we are required to maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash in trust in order to consummate the business combination and regardless of whether we proceed with redemptions under the tender or proxy rules, the probability that our business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate. 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 our trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
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The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning our initial business combination will be aware that we must consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. Consequently, such target businesses may obtain leverage over us in negotiating our 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. The length of time it may take us to complete our diligence and negotiate a business combination may reduce the amount of time available for us to ultimately complete an initial business combination should such diligence or negotiations not lead to a consummated initial business combination.
We may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period, 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 must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (as such period may be extended by shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination). We may not be able to find a suitable target business and consummate our initial business combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, political considerations, volatility in the capital and debt markets, other social and geopolitical events, and the other risks described herein, including, but not limited to, the war between Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Additionally, the outbreak of unforeseen occurrence of natural disasters, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire and may make it harder for us to find a suitable target business and consummate our initial business combination.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period (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), we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, 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 amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that, if we wind up for any other reason prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the trust account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to applicable Cayman Islands law. In either such case, our public shareholders may receive only $10.00 per public share, or less than $10.00 per public share, on the redemption of their shares. See “— The post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares the Company, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.”
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Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the recent and ongoing military action between Russia and Ukraine.
On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces launched a military action in Ukraine, and sustained conflict and disruption in the region is likely. Although the length, impact and outcome of the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine is highly unpredictable, this conflict could lead to significant market and other disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices and supply of energy resources, instability in financial markets, supply chain interruptions, political and social instability, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences as well as increase in cyberattacks and espionage. Russia’s recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military action against Ukraine have led to an unprecedented expansion of sanction programs imposed by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Japan and other countries against Russia, Belarus, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic.
The situation is rapidly evolving as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, and the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries may implement additional sanctions, export controls or other measures against Russia, Belarus and other countries, regions, officials, individuals or industries in the respective territories. Such sanctions and other measures, as well as the existing and potential further responses from Russia or other countries to such sanctions, tensions and military actions, could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and could adversely affect our ability to search for a business combination or finance such business combination, and the business, financial condition and results of operations of any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination may be materially adversely affected.
Our search for and ability to complete a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately complete a business combination, may be adversely affected by general market conditions, political considerations, pandemics, volatility in the capital and debt markets and other social and geopolitical events.
Our search for and ability to complete a business combination is subject to macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, including the emergence or continuation of widespread health emergencies or pandemics (similar to the recent COVID-19 pandemic), cyberattacks or campaigns, the current or anticipated impact of climate change, extreme weather events or natural disasters, military conflict, civil unrest, terrorism or other similar events, which could adversely affect business and economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad. The business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination could be materially and adversely affected by these types of events. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination as a result of these macroeconomic, geopolitical or other events, including if these events restrict travel, or limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which one of these types of events could impact our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. In addition, various conflicts, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East, could result in regional instability and adversely impact commodity and other financial markets as well as economic conditions. These events could create inflationary pressure or otherwise effect the global economy, all of which could negatively impact our ability to complete a business combination or otherwise affect target businesses.
If any macroeconomic, geopolitical or other matters of global concern cause disruptions to the business environment for an extended period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected. Additionally, our ability to complete a business combination transaction may depend on the ability to raise sufficient equity and debt financing, and any of these or similar events could adversely impact our or the target’s ability to do so due to, among other things, increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and the availability of third-party financing on terms acceptable to us or at all.
Dependence on Artificial Intelligence
If we pursue a business combination with a company that relies on, or is heavily involved in the development or application of, artificial intelligence (“AI”) we may face risks in and challenges to data integrity and security, regulatory risks, technical and operational risks. The AI landscape is highly competitive, and technological advancements can rapidly alter the competitive environment. New entrants or competitors may develop superior AI systems, making it difficult for a target business to maintain a competitive advantage.
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Changes in international trade policies, tariffs and treaties may have a material adverse effect on our search for an initial business combination target, our ability to complete an initial business combination, and/or our business, financial condition and results of operations following completion of an initial business combination.
There have recently been significant changes to international trade policies and tariffs affecting imports and exports. Any significant increases in tariffs on goods or materials or other changes in trade policy could negatively affect our search for a target and/or our ability to complete our initial business combination. Recently, the U.S. has implemented a range of new tariffs and increases to existing tariffs. In response to the tariffs announced by the U.S., other countries have imposed, are considering imposing, and may in the future impose new or increased tariffs on certain exports from the U.S. There is currently significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the U.S. and other countries with respect to trade policies, taxes, government regulations and tariffs, and we cannot predict whether, and to what extent, current tariffs will continue or trade policies will change in the future.
Tariffs, or the threat of tariffs or increased tariffs, could have a significant negative impact on certain businesses (either due to domestic businesses’ reliance on imported goods or dependence on access to foreign markets, or foreign businesses’ reliance on sales into the U.S.). In addition, retaliatory tariffs could have a significant negative impact on foreign businesses that rely on imports from the U.S., and domestic businesses that rely on exporting goods internationally. These tariffs and threats of tariffs and other potential trade policy changes could negatively affect the attractiveness of certain initial business combination targets, or lead to material adverse effects on a post-business combination company. Among other things, historical financial performance of companies affected by trade policies and/or tariffs may not provide useful guidance as to the future performance of such companies, because future financial performance of those companies may be materially affected by new U.S. tariffs or foreign retaliatory tariffs, or other changes to trade policies. The business prospects of a particular target for a business combination could change even after we enter into a business combination agreement, as a result of tariffs or the threat of tariffs that may have a material impact on that target’s business, and it may be costly or impractical for us to terminate that business combination agreement. These factors could affect our selection of a business combination target.
We may not be able to adequately address the risks presented by these tariffs or other potential changes in trade policy. As a result, we may deem it costly, impractical or risky to complete an initial business combination with a particular target or with a target in a particular industry or from a particular country. Consequently, the pool of potential target companies may be reduced, which could impair our ability to identify a suitable target and to complete an initial business combination. If we complete an initial business combination with such a target, the post-business combination company’s operations and financial results could be adversely affected as a result of tariffs or changes to trade policies, which may cause the market value of the securities of the post-business combination company to decline.
Macro-economic turbulence and instability relating to recent and ongoing global conflicts and other drivers of uncertainty may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations and our ability to successfully consummate a business combination.
A deterioration in economic conditions and related drivers of global uncertainty and change, such as reduced business activity, high unemployment, rising interest rates, housing prices, and energy prices (including the price of gasoline), increased consumer indebtedness, lack of available credit, the rate of inflation, and consumer perceptions of the economy, as well as other factors, such as terrorist attacks, protests, looting, and other forms of civil unrest, cyberattacks and data breaches, public health emergencies (such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics), extreme weather conditions and climate change, significant changes in the political environment, political instability, armed conflict (such as the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the military conflict in Israel and Gaza) and/or public policy, including increased state, local or federal taxation, could adversely affect our financial condition, the financial condition of prospective target companies for our initial business combination, or the financial condition of the combined company even if we successfully consummate a business combination, as well as our ability to locate a commercially viable target company for our business combination in the first instance.
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Recent increases in inflation in the United States and elsewhere could make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
Recent increases in inflation in the United States and elsewhere may lead to increased price volatility for publicly traded securities, including ours, or other national, regional or international economic disruptions, any of which could make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, and other issued SPAC entities may come to market with superior terms for the targets, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many companies preparing for an initial public offering. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares from other shareholders, in which case they may influence a vote in favor of a proposed business combination that you do not support.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates are permitted to purchase ordinary shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such purchase would be required to include a contractual acknowledgement that the selling shareholder, although he may still be the record holder of the shares being sold, would, upon consummation of such sale, no longer be the beneficial owner of such shares and would agree not to exercise the redemption rights applicable to such shares. In the event that our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates purchase Class A ordinary shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, any such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their Class A ordinary shares prior to the consummation of the transaction. Further, any shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction.
The purpose of such purchases could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the initial business combination or (2) 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 the business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the consummation of an initial business
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 tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a shareholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such shareholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, 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 redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer or proxy materials documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. Please see “Proposed Business—Redemption Rights.”
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As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets or such attractive targets may not be interested to consummate a business combination with a SPAC due to a negative public perception of mergers involving SPACs. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause target companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns (including a negative public perception of mergers involving SPACs), geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete our initial business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, s 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 may have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, offerings subject to Rule 419 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 consummation 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.”
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 approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on our redemption of their stock, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We expect to encounter intense 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 greater technical, human and other resources 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 will be numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private 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. Our Sponsor, any of its affiliates or any of their respective clients may make additional investments in us, although our Sponsor and its affiliates have no obligation or other duty to do so.
This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, in the event we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we are obligated to pay cash for public shares that are redeemed, it will potentially reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. 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 and completing a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, 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. Please see “The post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares the Company, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.”
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We will require public shareholders who wish to redeem their public shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.
We will require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the expiration date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or in the event we distribute proxy materials, up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. While we have been advised that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System, this may not be the case. Under our bylaws, we are required to provide at least 10 days advance notice of any shareholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a shareholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for shareholders to deliver their shares, shareholders who wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to redeem their shares. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares, its shares may not be redeemed.
Additionally, despite our compliance with the proxy rules or tender offer rules, as applicable, shareholders may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem their shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of our business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), and if you or a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding public shares sold in this offering, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding public shares sold in this offering.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that a public shareholder, individually or 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), would be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering. Your inability to redeem an aggregate of more than 15% of the Class A ordinary shares sold in this offering will reduce your influence over our ability to consummate our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell such excess shares in open market transactions. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, you would be required to sell your shares in open market transaction, potentially at a loss.
If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of this offering, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of this offering, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering and potential loans from certain of our affiliates are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” However, our affiliates are not obligated to make loans to us in the future, and we may not be able to raise additional financing from unaffiliated parties necessary to fund our expenses. Any such event in the future may negatively impact the analysis regarding our ability to continue as a going concern at such time.
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We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of this offering; 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 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 where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we 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. See “— The post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares the Company, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.”
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units and founder shares not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months from the closing of this offering, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our Sponsor or management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months from the closing of this offering, assuming that our initial business combination is not consummated during that time. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units and founder shares, only approximately $2,973,324 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment). Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we are unable to fund such down payments or “no shop” provisions, our ability to close a contemplated transaction could be impaired. Furthermore, if we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete our initial business combination, which may adversely affect our financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no other commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete initial business combination. Furthermore, we may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination. We and our officers and directors 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 any 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 our 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 security is payable on demand; |
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| ● | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding; |
| ● | our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares; |
| ● | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
| ● | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
| ● | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; 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. |
Our directors may decide not to enforce indemnification obligations against our Sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and our Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine on our behalf whether to take legal action against our Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations on our behalf, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and executive officers.
We will agree to indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, our officers and directors will agree 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.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
As described in the risk factor above entitled “Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.”, the SEC’s adopting release with respect to the SPAC Rules provided guidance describing the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. Whether a SPAC is an investment company will be a question of facts and circumstances. If our facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure to reflect how those changes impact the risk that we may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company. We can give no assurance that a claim will not be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company.
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If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may have to change our operations, wind down our operations, or register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Our activities may be restricted, including:
| ● | restrictions on the nature of our investments; and |
| ● | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. |
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
| ● | registration as an investment company; |
| ● | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
| ● | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We are mindful of the SEC’s investment company definition and guidance and intend to identify and complete an initial business combination with an operating business, and not with an investment company, or to acquire minority interests in other businesses exceeding the permitted threshold.
We do not believe that our anticipated activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account will initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended business combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the trust account, we may, at any time, (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act) instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank.
Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in securities or assets other than as described above. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding such investments, we may still be deemed to be an investment company and thus subject to the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended solely as a temporary depository for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) in a manner that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window; or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within the completion window, from the closing of this offering, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the public shares.
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We are aware of litigation claiming that certain SPACs should be considered to be investment companies. Although we believe that these claims were without merit, we cannot guarantee that we will not be deemed to be an investment company and thus subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial business combination or may result in our winding down our operations and our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our 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.
To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct the trustee to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of securities in the trust account, the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account may be materially reduced, which would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
We intend to initially hold the funds in the trust account as cash, including in demand deposit accounts at a bank, or in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. U.S. government treasury obligations are considered “securities” for purposes of the Investment Company Act, while cash is not. As noted above, one of the factors the SEC identified as relevant to the determination of whether a SPAC which holds securities could potentially be deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act is the SPAC’s duration. To mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the trust account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash until the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination or liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation, the rate of interest we receive on the funds held in the trust account may be materially decreased. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the trust account still may be released to us for permitted withdrawals and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.
If we are forced to enter into 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 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 of $18,293 and to imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.
We may not seek an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as to the fair market value of the target business we acquire.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, whose collective experience in business evaluations for blank check companies like ours is not significant. Furthermore, our directors may have a conflict of interest in analyzing the transaction due to their personal and financial interests.
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If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of the United States (or any subdivision thereof), it is possible a U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with any redemptions of our public shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of shares by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”), subject to certain exceptions. If applicable, the amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the aggregate fair market value of any shares repurchased by the corporation during a taxable year, net of the aggregate fair market value of certain new share issuances by the repurchasing corporation during the same taxable year.
As a Cayman Islands company, the Excise Tax is currently not expected to apply to redemptions of our public shares (absent any regulations or other additional guidance that may be issued in the future).
However, in connection with an initial business combination involving a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a corporation organized under the laws of a state of the United States prior to certain redemptions. Because we expect that, following such a domestication, our securities would continue to trade on a national securities exchange, in such a case, we could be subject to the Excise Tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions (including redemptions in connection with an extension vote or the initial business combination). Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination, extension vote or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination) and (iv) the content of final regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. On June 28, 2024, the Treasury finalized certain of the proposed regulations (those relating to procedures for reporting and paying the Excise Tax). The remaining regulations (largely relating to the computation of the Excise Tax) remain in proposed form. The Treasury intends to finalize these proposed regulations at a later date and, until such time, taxpayers may continue to rely on the proposed regulations.
Any Excise Tax that becomes payable as a result of any redemptions of our public shares (or other shares into which such public shares may be converted) would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder. We may use the interest earned on the proceeds placed in the trust account, to pay for possible Excise Tax or any other fees or taxes that may be levied on the Company on any redemptions or share buybacks by the Company pursuant to any current, pending or further rules or laws, including without limitation any Excise Tax, prior to release of such funds from the trust account following our initial business combination. To the extent the Excise Tax is applicable, the amount of cash available to transfer to the target business in connection with our initial business combination may be reduced, which could result in our inability to meet conditions in the agreement relating to our initial business combination related to a minimum cash requirement, if any, or otherwise result in the shareholders of the combined company (including any of our shareholders who do not exercise their redemption rights in connection with the initial business combination) to economically bear the impact of the Excise Tax. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets. Finally, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our complete liquidation. However, in the event of an Excise Tax imposed upon a complete liquidation, we may use the interest earned on the proceeds placed in the trust account to pay such Excise Tax and the amount received by shareholders may decrease.
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 public shares, or public 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 the status of an acquired company pursuant to a business combination and whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — 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. In addition, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status for any taxable year.
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Moreover, if we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a “qualified electing fund” election, but there can be no assurance that we will timely provide such required information, and such election would likely be unavailable with respect to our public warrants in all cases. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to holders of our public shares, or public warrants. As a result of our business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.
Although we will attempt to structure our initial business combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and we may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in connection with our initial business combination and subject to any requisite shareholder approval, we may structure our business combination in a manner that requires shareholders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes, effect a business combination with a target company in another jurisdiction, or reincorporate in a different jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located). We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders to pay taxes in connection with our business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a shareholder 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 may be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of the combined company after our initial business combination.
In addition, we may effect a business combination with a target company that has business operations in multiple jurisdictions. If we effect such a business combination, we could be subject to significant income, withholding and other tax obligations in a number of jurisdictions with respect to income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Due to the complexity of tax obligations and filings in other jurisdictions, we may have a heightened risk related to audits or examinations by various taxing authorities. This additional complexity and risk could have an adverse effect on our after-tax profitability and financial condition.
The post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares the Company, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
The Company’s placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims against the Company. Although the Company will seek to have all vendors and service providers the Company engages and prospective target businesses the Company negotiates with execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders, they may not execute such agreements. Furthermore, even if such entities execute such agreements with the Company, they may seek recourse against the trust account. A court may not uphold the validity of such agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of the Company’s public shareholders. If the Company is unable to complete a business combination and distribute the proceeds held in trust to the Company’s public shareholders, the Sponsor has agreed (subject to certain exceptions described in Exhibit 10.1 to this registration statement) that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by the Company for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to the Company. However, it may not be able to meet such obligation. Therefore, the per-share distribution from the trust account may be less than $10.00, plus interest, due to such claims.
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Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public 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 Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us (except for the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our Company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
The grant of registration rights to our initial shareholders and non-managing sponsor investors 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 public shares.
Pursuant to agreements to be entered into on the date of this prospectus, our initial shareholders, non-managing Sponsor investors and their respective permitted transferees, can demand that we register for resale an aggregate of 7,666,667 founder shares (assuming the exercise in full of the over-allotment option by the underwriter) and 775,000 private units (assuming exercise in full of the over-allotment by the underwriter) and underlying securities and securities issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any. 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 public 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 public shares that is expected when the securities owned by our initial shareholders or their respective permitted transferees, are registered.
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 taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination.
Pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us to pay our tax obligations at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete an initial business combination. Although we intend to consummate our business combination with a target with an aggregate enterprise value in excess of $500 million, there is no guarantee that we will do so. 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 and the sale of the private warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the completion window, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
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The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the completion window, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will 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 on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed initial 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. 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.
Although we identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified specific criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we consummate our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce our initial business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law or the Nasdaq rules, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain shareholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early-stage company, a financially unstable 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 investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining executive officers and directors. 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.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity, and consequently, an independent source may not confirm that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view.
Unless we consummate our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity 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. Our Board of Directors will have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of the target acquisition. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
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We may issue additional ordinary or preference shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination, which would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will authorize the issuance of up to 445,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 424,225,000 and 43,333,333 (assuming that the underwriter has not exercised its over-allotment option and 1,000,000 founder shares have been surrendered for no consideration, as further described in this prospectus) authorized but unissued Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, respectively, available for issuance which amount does not take into account shares issuable upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares, if any. The Class B ordinary shares are automatically convertible into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described 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.
The post-business combination company may issue a substantial number of additional Class A ordinary shares or preference shares to complete its initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of an initial business combination. The post-business combination company 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 herein. However, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide, among other things, that prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we may not, except in connection with the conversion of Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares where the holders of such shares have waived any rights to receive funds from the trust account, issue additional shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on our initial business combination or on any other proposal presented to shareholders prior to or in connection with the completion of an 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 a business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering or (y) amend the foregoing provisions. 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 or preference shares:
| ● | 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 to 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, the post-business combination company’s ability to use its net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of the post-business combination company’s officers and directors; |
| ● | may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the post-business combination company by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of the post-business combination company; and |
| ● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A ordinary shares. |
For more information on additional financing that we may raise in connection with our business combination and risks related thereto, also see “— Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company —The post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares at that time, which could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders and add costs” and “— We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete our initial business combination, which may adversely affect our financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.”
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Resources could be consumed in researching acquisitions that are not consummated, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per public share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, 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 consummate 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 $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may engage in our initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our Sponsor, executive officers or directors, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In light of the involvement of our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, and each of their affiliates, with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or any of their affiliates. Our directors also serve as executive officers and board members for other entities. Our Sponsor, executive officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to consummate our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for our initial business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business—Initial Business Combination—Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity regarding the fairness to our shareholders from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our 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. Our directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our shareholders, whether or not a conflict of interest may exist.
The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our 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 — Shareholders’ 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.
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We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, and the sale of the private 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 gross proceeds after this offering, the sale of founder shares to an advisor and the sale of the private units that we may use to complete our initial business combination will provide us with $207,750,000 (or $238,162,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full).
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously. 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 consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. 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 consummate business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to consummate 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 the initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to consummate our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, or at all.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. By definition, very little public information exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, or at all.
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Unlike some blank check companies, we do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it easier for us to consummate our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our shareholders do not agree.
Since we have no specified percentage threshold for redemption contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our structure is different in this respect from the structure that has been used by many blank check companies. Historically, blank check companies would not be able to consummate an initial business combination if the holders of such company’s public shares voted against a proposed business combination and elected to redeem more than a specified maximum percentage of the shares sold in such company’s IPO, which percentage threshold was typically between 19.99% and 39.99%. As a result, many blank check companies were unable to complete a business combination because the amount of shares voted by their public shareholders electing redemption exceeded the maximum redemption threshold pursuant to which such company could proceed with its initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to consummate 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 business combination pursuant to the tender offer, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to us or our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates.
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 at least a majority of our issued and outstanding shares. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the trust agreement 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 will provide that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private 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, meaning holders of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares who attend and vote at a shareholder meeting of the Company, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares, which are represented in person or by proxy and are voted at a general meeting; provided that the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the appointment and removal of directors prior to our initial business combination and our continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination may only be amended by a special resolution passed by holders representing at least two-thirds of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares. Our initial shareholders, and their permitted transferees, if any, who will collectively beneficially own, on an as-converted basis, 40% of our Class B ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any shares in this offering and that no over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriter and excluding any shares underlying the private units), will 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. 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 blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a 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.
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If an amendment to any such provision is approved by the requisite shareholder vote, then the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended. Subsequent to this offering and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Our Sponsor, executive officers and directors (and their permitted transferees) will collectively beneficially own approximately 34.1% of our outstanding ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering and that the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option and excluding any shares underlying the private units), and they may 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; provided, that, each of them has agreed (and any of their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering 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 thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. Our shareholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, this agreement and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our Sponsor, executive officers, directors or director nominees for any breach of this agreement. As a result, in the event of a breach, our shareholders would need to pursue a shareholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
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. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and the warrants will expire worthless.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units and founder shares, including the interest earned on the proceeds held in the trust account that may be available to us for our initial business combination, will be sufficient to allow us to consummate our initial business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units and founder shares prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from shareholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. Financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular initial business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and the warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to consummate 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.
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Our initial shareholders will control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon consummation of our offering, our initial shareholders will own approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding shares (assuming that they do not purchase any public units in this offering and that the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option and excluding any shares underlying the private units). Our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or any of their affiliates may purchase public units in this offering or any public units or Class A ordinary shares from persons in the open market or in private transactions. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. Our initial shareholders or any of their affiliates could determine in the future to make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions, to the extent permitted by law, in order to influence the vote or magnitude of the number of shareholders seeking to tender their shares to us. 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.
In addition, prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on transferring the Company by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend the constitutional documents of the Company or to adopt new constitutional documents of the Company, in each case, as a result of the Company approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands) and, as a result, our initial shareholders will be able to approve any such proposal without the vote of any other shareholder. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by holders representing at least two-thirds of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares. If our initial shareholders purchase any shares 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. Accordingly, our Sponsor will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our Sponsor. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination our Sponsor, executive officers and directors have agreed to vote the shares held by them immediately before this offering, as well as any Class A ordinary shares acquired in this offering or in the aftermarket in favor of such proposed 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 United States federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. 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 must be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), or International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and the historical financial statements must be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or 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 statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and consummate our initial business combination within our 24-month time frame.
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Redeeming shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
We will require public shareholders who wish to redeem their public shares in connection with any proposed business combination to comply with the delivery requirements discussed above for redemption. If such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to redeem their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our public shares may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other shareholders that did not seek redemption may be able to sell their securities.
We may approve an amendment or waiver of the letter agreement that would allow our Sponsor to directly, or members of our Sponsor to indirectly, transfer founder shares and Private Placement Shares or membership interests in our Sponsor in a transaction in which the sponsor removes itself as our sponsor before identifying a business combination, which may deprive us of key personnel.
Pursuant to a letter agreement that our initial shareholders, directors and officers have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell (i) any of their founder shares until the earliest of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property, and (ii) any of their private units or any securities underlying the private units, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The foregoing restrictions are not applicable to transfers (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our officers or directors, any members or partners of our Sponsor or their affiliates, any affiliates of our Sponsor, 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 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 the 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 shares, as applicable, were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of our Sponsor’s organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of our Sponsor; (g) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination; (h) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; or (i) in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange 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 our completion of our 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 and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement. Members of our Sponsor are restricted in their ability to transfer their interests in the Sponsor pursuant to the formation agreement of our Sponsor, which provides that members in the Sponsor may only transfer their Sponsor interests to such member’s affiliates (which affiliates shall include any owners of an equity interest in the member, direct investors, members, or limited partners, as the case may be), immediate family, or to a trust, the primary beneficiary(ies) of which is a member or members of such member’s immediate family. While there is no current intention to do so, and the members of our management team and Sponsor have not done so with any previously formed special purpose acquisition companies, we may approve an amendment or waiver of the letter agreement that would allow the Sponsor to directly, or members of our Sponsor to indirectly, transfer founder shares and Private Placement Shares or membership interests in our Sponsor in a transaction in which the Sponsor removes itself as our Sponsor before identifying a business combination. As a result, there is a risk that our Sponsor and our officers and directors may divest their ownership or economic interests in us or in our Sponsor, which would likely result in our loss of certain key personnel, including Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal. There can be no assurance that any replacement Sponsor or key personnel will successfully identify a business combination target for us, or, even if one is so identified, successfully complete such business combination.
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If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, our public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond such period before redemption from our trust account.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (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), we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
If we are required to liquidate prior to distributing the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (less any permitted withdrawals) pro rata to our public shareholders, then such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the Cayman laws. In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them, and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. Except as otherwise described herein, we have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of any redemption required as a result of our failure to consummate our initial business combination within the period described above or our liquidation, unless we consummate our initial business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their Class A ordinary shares. Only upon any such redemption of public shares as we are required to effect or any liquidation will public shareholders be entitled to distributions if we are unable to complete our initial business combination.
We may be unable to consummate an initial business combination if a target business requires that we have a certain amount of cash at closing, in which case public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our Company and wait until our redemption of the public shares to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.
A potential target may make it a closing condition to our initial business combination that we have a certain amount of cash available at the time of closing, and thus, increasing the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful. If the number of our public shareholders electing to exercise their redemption rights has the effect of reducing the amount of money available to us to consummate an initial business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our Company and wait the full 24 months from the closing of this offering, in order to be able to receive a portion of the trust account, or attempt to sell their shares in the open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than they would have in a liquidation of 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.
Our Sponsor may decide not to extend the term we have to consummate our initial business combination, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, and the warrants will be worthless.
We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate our initial business combination. Our shareholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any such extension. However, our shareholders will be entitled to vote and redeem their shares in connection with a general meeting held to approve an initial business combination or in a tender offer undertaken in connection with an initial business combination if we propose such a business combination during any extension period. If 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 five 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 possible claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such event, the warrants will be worthless.
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If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within the 24-month period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension and the related amendments are implemented by the directors, holders of Class A ordinary shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law. However, 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.
We may seek business combination opportunities with a high degree of complexity that require significant operational improvements, which could delay or prevent us from achieving our desired results.
We may seek business combination opportunities with large, highly complex companies that we believe would benefit from operational improvements. While we intend to implement such improvements, to the extent that our efforts are delayed or we are unable to achieve the desired improvements, the business combination may not be as successful as we anticipate.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with a large complex business or entity with a complex operating structure, we may also be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine, which could delay or prevent us from implementing our strategy. Although our management team will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business and its operations, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors until we complete our business combination. If we are not able to achieve our desired operational improvements, or the improvements take longer to implement than anticipated, we may not achieve the gains that we anticipate. Furthermore, some of these risks and complexities may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks and complexities will adversely impact a target business. Such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a smaller, less complex organization.
We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after the first full fiscal year that the Company is in existence. As an exempted company, there is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or shareholder meetings to elect directors. Until we hold an annual meeting of shareholders, public shareholders may not be afforded the opportunity to elect directors and to discuss company affairs with management.
The warrants may become exercisable and redeemable for a security other than the Class A ordinary shares, and you will not have any information regarding such other security at this time.
In certain situations, including if we are not the surviving entity of a business combination, the warrants may become exercisable for a security other than the Class A ordinary shares. As a result, if the surviving company redeems your warrants for securities pursuant to the warrant agreement, you may receive a security in a company of which you do not have information at this time. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, the surviving company will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register the issuance of the security underlying the warrants as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days, after the closing of our initial business combination.
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Although we are registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act as part of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.
Although we are registering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act as part of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, we have agreed that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 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 registration statement covering the issuance of such shares, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination and to maintain the effectiveness of the same relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed. 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, complete or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the above requirements, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their public warrants on a cashless basis, in which case, the number of Class A ordinary shares that you will receive upon cashless exercise will be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the public warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) less the exercise price of the public warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” as used in the preceding sentence shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares for the ten trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent. However, no warrant will 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 is available. 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, but 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. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities 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 applicable state securities laws and no exemption is available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant 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. There may be a circumstance where an exemption from registration exists for holders of our private warrants to exercise their warrants while a corresponding exemption does not exist for holders of the public warrants included as part of units sold in this offering. In such an instance, our Sponsor and its permitted transferees (which may include our directors and executive officers) would be able to exercise their warrants and sell the ordinary shares underlying their warrants while holders of our public warrants would not be able to exercise their warrants and sell the underlying ordinary shares. If and when the public warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying Class A ordinary shares for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the public warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise such warrants.
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In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments. We may seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that our shareholders may not support.
In order to effectuate a business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, and extended the time to consummate a business combination. Amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require at least a special resolution of our shareholders as a matter of Cayman Islands law, meaning the approval of holders of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares who attend and vote at a shareholder meeting of the Company. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require us to provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we implement, following the approval of the shareholders, an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares. To the extent any of such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of the securities offered hereby, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our 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, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our 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 petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our 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.
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Holders of Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on any appointment and removal of our directors we hold prior to the completion of our initial business combination and will also not be able to vote on our continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of our directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment or the removal of our directors during such time. Accordingly, you may not have any say in the management of our Company prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.
Further, prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on transferring the Company by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend the constitutional documents of the Company or to adopt new constitutional documents of the Company, in each case, as a result of the Company approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands) and, as a result, our initial shareholders will be able to approve any such proposal without the vote of any other shareholder.
The provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the appointment and removal of our directors prior to our initial business combination and our continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination may only be amended by a special resolution passed by holders representing at least two-thirds of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares.
We may not be able to complete a business combination with certain potential target companies if a proposed transaction with the target company may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations.
Our Sponsor is a Cayman Islands exempted company. Our Sponsor currently owns 7,666,667 founder shares (of which, 1,000,000 are subject to surrender for no consideration if the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. Our Sponsor is governed by a board of directors consisting of two directors, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal. As such, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal have voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held of record by the Sponsor and may be deemed to have shared beneficial ownership of the securities held directly or indirectly by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is not “controlled” (as defined in 31 CFR 800.208) by a foreign person, such that the Sponsor’s involvement in any business combination would be a “covered transaction” (as defined in 31 CFR 800.213). However, it is possible that non-U.S. persons could be involved in our business combination, which may increase the risk that our business combination becomes subject to regulatory review, including review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and that restrictions, limitations or conditions will be imposed by CFIUS. If our business combination with a U.S. business is subject to CFIUS review, the scope of which was expanded by FIRRMA, to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with a business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing a business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete a 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. A failure to notify CFIUS of a transaction where such notification was required or otherwise warranted based on the national security considerations presented by an investment target may expose our Sponsor and/or the combined company to legal penalties, costs, and/or other adverse reputational and financial effects, thus potentially diminishing the value of the combined company. In addition, CFIUS is actively pursuing transactions that were not notified to it and may ask questions regarding, or impose restrictions or mitigation on, a business combination post-closing.
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Moreover, the process of government review, whether by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our business combination. If we cannot complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering because the transaction is still under review or because our business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, shareholders of record may only receive their pro rata portion of funds available in the trust account. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
We may engage our underwriter or one of its 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 underwriter is entitled to receive deferred commissions that will be released from the trust only on a completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause the underwriter to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage our underwriter or one of its respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing M&A advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing transactions. We may pay 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 the underwriter or its respective affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to the underwriter or its respective affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriter’s compensation in connection with this offering. The underwriter is also entitled to receive deferred commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The underwriter’s or its 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.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our Sponsor or management team to fund our search for an initial business combination, to pay our taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, only approximately $2,973,324 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. We believe that, upon closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the completion window; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. We expect to fund our working capital requirements prior to the time of our initial business combination in part with funds provided by our Sponsor, an affiliate of our Sponsor or our officers and directors who may, but none of them is obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $776,676, 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. The amount held in the trust account will not be impacted as a result of such increase or decrease. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $776,676 the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our Sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. None of our Sponsor, members of our management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender, upon consummation of our initial business combination. In addition, after the completion of this offering, our board of directors may approve additional working capital loans for the purpose of funding working capital, which loans may be converted into our private units, shares, or warrants. The units would be identical to the private units. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete 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. Consequently, our public shareholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless.
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Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended or waived 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 or waived without shareholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the letter agreement among us and our initial shareholders, sponsor, officers and directors; the registration rights agreement among us and our initial shareholders; the private warrants purchase agreement between us and our Sponsor; and the administrative services agreement among us, our Sponsor and an affiliate of our Sponsor. These agreements contain various provisions that our public 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 warrants and other securities held by our initial shareholders, sponsor, officers and directors. Amendments to or waivers of 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 or waiver of 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 or waivers of any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any amendment or waiver entered into in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to such initial business combination, and any other material amendment to or waiver of any of our material agreements will be disclosed in a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments or waivers 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 or waivers of 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.
Unlike many other similarly structured blank check companies, our initial shareholders will receive additional Class A ordinary shares if we issue shares to consummate an 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 (excluding private shares underlying private units) plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares, subject to vesting and any other restrictions, issued or deemed issued to (i) our Sponsor (or its members or affiliates) in connection with the consummation of this offering, (ii) any seller in the initial business combination, (iii) the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private warrants and (iv) any Class A ordinary shares issued to our Sponsor (or its members or affiliates) upon conversion of working capital loans. Our public shareholders may incur immediate and substantial dilution upon such adjustment. Additionally, the aforementioned adjustment will not take into account any Class A ordinary shares redeemed in connection with the business combination. Accordingly, the holders of the founder shares could receive additional Class A ordinary shares even if the additional Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities convertible or exercisable for Class A ordinary shares, are issued or deemed issued solely to replace those shares that were redeemed in connection with the business combination. The foregoing may make it more difficult and expensive for us to consummate an initial business combination.
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Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company
Subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, or we may be subject to 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 public shares, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct thorough due diligence on a target business with which we combine, this diligence may not surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business. Factors outside of the target business and outside of our control may, at any time, arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any holders who choose to retain their securities following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such 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.
Our management team and our shareholders may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure our initial business combination to acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only consummate such business combination if we become the majority shareholder of the target (or control the target through contractual arrangements in limited circumstances for regulatory compliance purposes) or are otherwise not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even though we may own a majority interest in the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority shareholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the Company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that we will not be able to maintain our control of the post-transaction company.
Transactions in connection with or in anticipation of our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to our shareholders and warrant holders. As a result of our initial business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.
Although we will attempt to structure transactions in connection with 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 anticipation of or as a result of our initial business combination, we may enter into one or more transactions that require shareholders and warrant holders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes or otherwise increase their tax burden without prior notice to or approval from our shareholders and warrant holders. 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 be required to satisfy any liability resulting from any such transactions with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of such holder’s public shares or public warrants.
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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.
The post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price which is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares at that time, which could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders and add costs.
In connection with our initial business combination, the post-business combination company may issue shares to investors in private placement transactions (so-called PIPE transactions) in order to complete an initial business combination and provide sufficient liquidity and capital 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. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders. Any such issuances of equity securities at a price that is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares at that time could be structured to ensure a return on investment to the investors and could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders in a manner that would not ordinarily occur in a traditional initial public offering and could result in both a reduction in the trading price of our shares to the price at which the post-business combination company issues such equity securities and fluctuations in the net tangible book value per share of the combined company’s securities following the completion of our initial business combination. The post-business combination company may also provide price protection or other incentives, or issue convertible securities such as preferred equity or convertible debt, and the exercise or conversion price of those securities may be fixed or adjustable, and may be less, and potentially significantly less, than $10.00 per share or the market price for our shares at such time. Such issuances could also result in additional transaction costs related to our initial business combination compared to a traditional initial public offering, including the placement fees associated with the engagement of a placement agent in connection with PIPE transactions.
In addition, although there are no current plans to do so, in order to facilitate our initial business combination or a PIPE financing or for any other reason determined by our Sponsor in its sole discretion, our Sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange our founder shares or private shares 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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Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company
Because we are not limited to a particular industry or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
We may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company of any size (subject to our satisfaction of the 80% of fair market value test) and in any industry, sector or geography. However, we will not, under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or development stage entity. Although our directors and officers 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 not ultimately prove to be less favorable to our investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any shareholder or warrant holder who chooses to remain a shareholder or warrant holder, respectively, following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such shareholders and warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Past performance of Consilium, Meteora, our team and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the Company.
Information regarding performance of Consilium, Meteora, our team and their respective affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance of Consilium, Meteora, our team and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee either (1) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (2) or success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of Consilium, Meteora, our team or their respective affiliates or any related investment’s performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in the Company or the returns the Company will, or is likely to, generate going forward.
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 criteria and guidelines, such initial business 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 applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other 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 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.
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Holders of warrants will not have redemption rights if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the funds held in the trust account, the warrants will expire.
We have no obligation to net cash settle the warrants.
In no event will we have any obligation to net cash settle the warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable 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 investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our directors and officers 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.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm regarding fairness. Consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our Company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion that the price we are paying is fair to our Company 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 tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We are dependent upon our directors and officers and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our directors and officers, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our directors and officers 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 officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
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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 our or a target’s 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.
In addition, the directors and officers of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Members of our team may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Members of our team may be able to remain with the 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 our initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any of the members of our team will remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any members of our team will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any members of our team will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Members of our management team and board of directors have significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, may be, or may become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including related to those companies or otherwise. The defense or 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 and board of directors 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, may be 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. Any litigation, investigations or other proceedings 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.
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We may have limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may affect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’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 shareholder or warrant holder who chooses to remain a shareholder or warrant holder, respectively, following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such shareholders and warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
The directors and officers of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.
Our team 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 directors and officers are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Our officers may be engaged in other business endeavors for which they may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Certain of our independent directors also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If our 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 discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see “Management and Advisors — Directors, Director Nominees and Officers.”
Certain of our directors and officers 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 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. Our Sponsor, and our team are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. Our Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from Sponsoring, or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies prior to us completing our initial business combination.
Our team 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 other entities 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. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to the Company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see “Management and Advisors — Directors, Director Nominees and Officers,” “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
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Our directors, officers, 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. We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our initial shareholders, directors or officers, or non-managing Sponsor investors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public shareholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our initial shareholders, directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, may engage independent advisors to assist with the evaluation and will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm that such business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, 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.
In particular, affiliates of our Sponsor have invested in a diverse set of industries. As a result, there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable business combination for us and companies that would make an attractive target for such other affiliates.
We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our Sponsor, directors and officers with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses or entities affiliated with our Sponsor, directors and officers. Certain of our directors and officers also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including those described under “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our Sponsor, directors and officers 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 preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria and guidelines for a business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business — Effecting Our Initial Business Combination — Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our agreement that we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions regarding the fairness to our Company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers, 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.
Neither Consilium nor Meteora is under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services to our Company.
Consilium and Meteora may become aware of a potential business combination opportunity that may be an attractive opportunity for our Company. Consilium, Meteora, and our Company may each assess opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. In particular, CIM manages two products targeted at Frontier Growth Markets. The Fund focuses on listed equities opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. EOF focuses on less liquid opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets, and targets a three-year time horizon to extract value from companies that are relatively unknown. Meteora is an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments. Neither Meteora nor Consilium is under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services to our Company. Meteora and Consilium’s role with respect to our Company is expected to be advisory in nature. Consilium may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to its investment vehicles and to companies in which Consilium has invested. Similarly, Meteora may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to its clients and to companies in which Meteora has invested. As a result, Consilium and Meteora may each have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to certain Consilium funds, other investment vehicles or other entities before other parties, including our Company. Additionally, certain companies in which Consilium or Meteora has invested may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest because Consilium may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see “Management and Advisors — Directors, Director Nominees and Officers,” “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
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Since our initial shareholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor has acquired 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares for the sum of $25,000 (of which, 1,000,000 are subject to surrender for no consideration if the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. Our initial shareholders will collectively own 25% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding any shares underlying the private units). If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a capitalization or share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering. The Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the founder shares may ultimately 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. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination.
In addition, our Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 private units (or 575,000 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) for a purchase price of $5,000,000 (or $5,750,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $10.00 per unit, that will also be worthless if we do not complete a business combination.
The founder shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering except that: (1) prior to our initial business combination, only holders of the founder shares have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of our directors and only holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of our board of directors for any reason; (2) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions contained in a letter agreement that our initial shareholders, directors and officers have entered into with us; (3) pursuant to such letter agreement, our initial shareholders, directors and officers have agreed to waive: (i) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them 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 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 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame); (4) the founder shares will automatically convert into our Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described in more detail below; and (5) the founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote their founder shares and private shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. To the extent that the parties to the letter agreement acquire any public shares after we publicly announce our intention to engage in a proposed business combination, such initial shareholders have agreed that they will not vote such shares for or against such business combination.
The personal and financial interests of our Sponsor, directors and officers may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the 24-month deadline following the closing of this offering nears, which is the deadline for the completion of our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to or waiver of the letter agreement or registration rights agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgement and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to or waivers of such agreements in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments or waivers 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.
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We may be able to complete only one business combination with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private 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 sale of the private units will provide us with $2,973,324 (or $3,535,824 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use to complete our initial business combination.
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 risks. 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.
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 complete such business combination only if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business 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 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 our initial business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new ordinary shares in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity securities of a target, or issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. 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 ordinary shares, our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding 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 our control of the target business.
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Our initial shareholders will control the appointment and the removal of our board of directors until consummation of our initial business combination and will hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, they will appoint all of our directors prior to our initial business combination and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of this offering, our initial shareholders will own 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding any shares underlying the private units). In addition, prior to our initial business combination, holders of the founder shares will have the right to appoint all of our directors and may remove members of the board of directors for any reason. Holders of our public shares will have no right to vote on the appointment and the removal of our directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by the holders of a majority of at least 90% of our ordinary shares attending and voting in person or by proxy in a general meeting. As a result, you will not have any influence over the appointment of directors prior to our initial business combination.
Neither our initial shareholders nor, to our knowledge, any of our directors or officers, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this prospectus. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. In addition, as a result of their substantial ownership in our Company, our initial shareholders may exert a substantial influence on other 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 and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial shareholders purchase any Class A ordinary shares in this offering or in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over these actions.
Accordingly, our initial shareholders will exert significant influence over actions requiring a shareholder vote at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor is owned by Samara CSLM LLC and CIC, (CIC is owned by Charles T. Cassel III and Jonathan M Binder. Samara CSLM LLC is owned by Vikas Mittal. Jonathan M. Binder and Vikas Mittal serve on our board of directors. Charles T. Cassel III is our Chief Executive Officer.) and is owned by entities controlled by them and associated with Consilium (the “Consilium affiliates”). As a result, Mr. Mittal, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Binder and the Consilium affiliates may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, and their interests may differ from your interests.
Our Sponsor is managed by its two directors, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal and is owned by 51% by Samara CSLM LLC and 49% by CIC. CIC is owned 50% by Charles T. Cassel III and 50% by Jonathan M Binder. Samara CSLM LLC is solely owned by Vikas Mittal and his immediate family. Jonathan M. Binder and Vik Mittal serve on our board of directors. Charles T. Cassel III is also our Chief Executive Officer. In addition, our Sponsor is owned by Consilium affiliates. As a result, Vik Mittal, Charles T. Cassel III, Jonathan M. Binder and the Consilium affiliates may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including appointment and the removal of our directors, amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our Sponsor purchases any Class A ordinary shares in this offering or in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over such actions.
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Risks Relating to Our Securities
The securities in which we invest the funds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
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. While short-term U.S. government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination or make certain amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our public shareholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest earned thereon, net of taxes paid or payable (less, in the case we are unable to complete our initial business combination, $100,000 of interest). Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares, potentially at a loss.
Our public shareholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of a redemption to public shareholders prior to any winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation, (ii) if they redeem their shares in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate or, (iii) if they redeem their shares 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 redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to our pre-business combination activity and related shareholders’ rights. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to the funds in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your securities, 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.
We have applied to have our public units listed on Nasdaq. We expect that our public units will be listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. Following the date our Class A ordinary shares and public warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that our Class A ordinary shares and public warrants will be separately listed on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. Although after giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the 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, following our initial public offering, we must maintain a minimum market value of listed securities (generally $50,000,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 400 public holders). 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, unless we decide to list on a different Nasdaq tier, such as the Nasdaq Capital Market which has different initial listing requirements, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and we would be required to have a minimum of 400 round lot holders of our securities. We may not be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
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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 is 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 we expect that our units and eventually our Class A ordinary shares and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq, our units, and Class A ordinary shares will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities, including in connection with our initial business combination.
Purchases of public shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions by our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may make it difficult for us to maintain the listing of our public shares on Nasdaq following the consummation of an initial business combination.
If our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase public shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, the public “float” of our public shares and the number of beneficial holders of our securities would both be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain the listing or trading of our securities on Nasdaq following consummation of the initial business combination. Additionally, at any time at or prior to the completion of our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares or not redeem their public shares. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. 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 be required to comply with such rules. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by our 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.
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In the event our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase public shares from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. Further, any shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction.
There is no limit on the number of shares our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares in such transactions. Such persons will be subject to restrictions in 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.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to (i) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination or (ii) 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 the business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such transactions may result in the completion of our business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors 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 (holding Class A ordinary shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our initial shareholders, directors, officers, 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 only if such shares have not already been voted at the general meeting related to our initial business combination. Our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase shares from based on the negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and/or their affiliates will be subject to restrictions in making purchases of ordinary shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
Additionally, in the event our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase public shares from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. Further, any shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction 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 initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
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| ● | if our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
| ● | our 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 initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
| ● | the purpose of the purchases by our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; |
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our 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 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 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. |
Since only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and the removal of our directors prior to our initial business combination, Nasdaq may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq’s rules and, as a result, we may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that would otherwise provide protection to shareholders of other companies.
After completion of this offering, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of our directors. As a result, Nasdaq may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, a group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
| ● | we have a board that includes a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under Nasdaq rules; |
| ● | we have a compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and |
| ● | we have independent director oversight of our director nominations. |
We do not intend to utilize these exemptions and intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq, subject to applicable phase-in rules. However, if we determine in the future to utilize some or all of these exemptions, you will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements.
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Because our Sponsor (and upon the closing of the Securities Transfer Agreement, each of the Company’s director nominees Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew) paid an aggregate of $25,000, or $0.003 per founder share (assuming the full exercise of the over-allotment option), you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our public shares.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating the entire unit purchase price to the public shares and none to the warrants included in the public units) and the pro forma net tangible book value per public share after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our Sponsor acquired the founder shares at a price of $0.003 per share, contributing to this dilution. In addition, our Sponsor and the underwriter in this offering, have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 775,000 private units in a private placement (or 891,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at the price of $10.00 per private unit. Upon closing of this offering, you and the other public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 107.09% (or $10.71 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering of $(0.71) (assuming the maximum redemption) and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. 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. In addition, because of the anti-dilution protection in the founder shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A ordinary shares.
The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor and advisor 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.
We are offering our units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit and the amount deposited 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, our Sponsor purchased 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares from us for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.03 per share, of which up to 1,000,000 founder shares remain subject to surrender for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 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. 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 $192,000,000, which is the amount in cash we would have for our initial business combination in the trust account, assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised and following payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, 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 equity holders or other third parties, or the target’s business itself, including its assets, liabilities, management and prospects, or the impact of our public warrants and the private warrants. At such valuation, our Class A ordinary shares would have an implied value of $7.00 per share upon consummation of our initial business combination, which would be a 30.0% decrease as compared to the initial implied value per public share of $10.00 (the price per unit in this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the public warrants).
| Public shares | 20,000,000 | |||
| Founder shares(1) | 6,666,667 | |||
| Private Units | 775,000 | |||
| Total shares | 27,441,667 | |||
| Total funds in trust available for initial business combination | $ | 192,000,000 | ||
| Public shareholders’ investment per Class A ordinary share | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Sponsor’s investment per Class B ordinary share(2) | $ | 0.003 | ||
| Initial implied value per public share | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Implied value per public share upon consummation of initial business combination(3) | $ | 7.00 |
| (1) | Assumes that the over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 1,000,000 founder shares have been surrendered for no consideration by our Sponsor as a result thereof. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. |
| (2) | The total investment in the equity of the Company by the Sponsor and CCM is $7,750,000, consisting of (i) $25,000 paid by the Sponsor for the founder shares, (ii) $5,000,000 paid by the Sponsor for 500,000 units and (iii) $2,750,000 paid by CCM for 275,000 private units. For purposes of this table, the full investment amount is ascribed to the founder shares only. |
| (3) | All founder shares would automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares upon completion of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holder. |
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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 protection in the founder shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A ordinary shares.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of our 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 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement will provide 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 the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant.
Our warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our public shares and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing warrants to purchase 387,500 shares of our Class A ordinary shares (or up to 408,125 shares if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) as part of the units offered by this prospectus and 387,500 warrants underlying the private units. In each case, the warrants are exercisable at a price of $11.50. 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. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding 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 combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
Our management’s ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer Class A ordinary shares upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.
If we call our public warrants for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this prospectus have been satisfied, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his warrants (including any warrants held by our Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their permitted transferees) to do so on a “cashless basis.” If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of warrant shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrants for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our Company.
Holders of warrants will not participate in liquidating distributions if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, the warrants will expire and holders will not receive any of such proceeds with respect to the warrants. In this case, holders of warrants are treated in the same manner as holders of warrants of blank check companies whose units are comprised of shares and warrants, as the warrants in those companies do not participate in liquidating distribution. Nevertheless, holders of public units may have a financial incentive to vote in favor of any proposed initial business combination as each whole warrant would entitle the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share, resulting in an increase in their overall economic stake in our Company. If a business combination is not approved, the warrants will expire and will be worthless.
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Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our Company.
Our warrant agreement will provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. With respect to any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, we note, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
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 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 of the forum provisions of our warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such 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.
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. 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.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike most blank check companies, if
| ● | we issue additional 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 share, |
| ● | 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 the volume weighted average trading price of the Class A ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the Business Combination is below $9.20 per share (the “Trading Price”), |
then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Trading Price and the price at which we issue the additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
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If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, public holders will only be able to exercise such warrants on a “cashless basis” which would result in a fewer number of shares being issued to the holder had such holder exercised the warrants for cash.
If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants at the time that holders wish to exercise such warrants, they will only be able to exercise them on a “cashless basis” provided that an exemption from registration is available. As a result, the number of warrant shares that a holder will receive upon exercise of its public warrants will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised its warrant for cash. Further, if an exemption from registration is not available, holders would not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and would only be able to exercise their warrants for cash if a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant issuable upon exercise of the warrants is available. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration under the Securities Act of the warrant shares and thereafter use our best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. If we are unable to do so, the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our Company may be reduced or the warrants may expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities 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. If the issuance of the warrant shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrants shall 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the private warrants may be exercisable for unregistered warrant shares for cash even if the prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not current and effective.
The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriter. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriter, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriter believed it 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, warrants, and rights underlying the units, include:
| ● | the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies; |
| ● | prior offerings of those companies; |
| ● | our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values; |
| ● | a review of debt-to-equity ratios in leveraged transactions; |
| ● | our capital structure; |
| ● | an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; |
| ● | general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and |
| ● | other factors as were deemed relevant. |
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price 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.
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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.
Although we have applied to list our securities on Nasdaq, as of the date of this prospectus there is currently no market for our securities. Prospective 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. Once listed on Nasdaq, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. Additionally, if our securities become delisted from Nasdaq for any reason, and are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets, an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities not listed on a national exchange, the liquidity and price of our securities may be more limited than if we were listed on Nasdaq or another national exchange. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
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 which approximates the per-share amounts in our trust account at such time, which is generally approximately $10.00. The purpose of such issuances will be to enable us to provide sufficient liquidity to the post-business combination entity. 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.
An investment in our securities, and certain subsequent transactions with respect to our securities, may result in uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for an investor.
An investment in our securities, and certain subsequent transactions with respect to our securities, may result in uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for an investor. For instance, because there is no authority that directly addresses the U.S. federal income tax implications of instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes of the purchase price of a unit between the public shares and public warrants included in each unit could be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or the courts. Furthermore, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of public warrants is unclear under current law. Additionally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our public shares suspend the running of a U.S. Holder’s (as defined in the section captioned “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Holders” below) holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of public shares is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be eligible for favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment. See “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” below for a summary of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. Each prospective investor is urged to consult with and rely solely upon its own tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.
Whether a redemption of public shares will be treated as a sale of such public shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on a shareholder’s specific facts.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a redemption of public shares will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of such public shares under Section 302(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which will depend largely on the total number of our shares treated as held by the shareholder electing to redeem public shares (including any shares constructively owned by the holder as a result of owning public warrants, or otherwise) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption. If such redemption is not treated as a sale of public shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the redemption will instead be treated as a corporate distribution of cash from us. For more information about the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the redemption of public shares, see the sections entitled “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Holders—Redemption of Public Shares” or “Taxation—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Non-U.S. Holders,” as applicable.
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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 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 with one or more target businesses. To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. We have not selected any specific business combination target 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.
We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.
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 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 public 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 January 1. 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 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 a comparison of our financial statements with another public company, unless it is an emerging growth company that has not 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 30, and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30. 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.
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 executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or officers.
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Our corporate affairs and the rights of shareholders 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. For a more detailed discussion of the principal differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and, for example, the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Certain Differences in Corporate Law.”
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like the Company have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of the register of members of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to 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) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). 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.
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 a 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, 2026. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer 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 company with which we seek to complete our 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.
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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.
We identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the future, or fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, which may result in material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations.
In connection with the audit of our financial statements as of and for the period ended March 31, 2025, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the lack of properly designed, implemented and effectively operating controls. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management, with oversight from the board of directors and the audit committee of the board of directors will implement a remediation plan for this material weakness, including, among other things, designing and maintaining a formal control environment, accounting policies, procedures and controls to achieve complete, accurate and timely financial accounting, reporting and disclosures. We cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of our evaluation, testing, and remediation actions or their effect on our operations
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Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As of March 31, 2025, we had $25,000 in cash and working capital deficit of $114,688. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. In addition, management is currently evaluating the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in Israel, interest rate fluctuations and increased inflation, and the recently adopted SEC rules and amendments affecting special purpose acquisition corporations like the Company, and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that such matters could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, cash flows, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impacts are not readily determinable as of March 31, 2025. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this report do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments 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 also may 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 and results of operations.
We are subject to changing law and regulations regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that have increased both our costs and the risk of non-compliance.
We are subject to rules and regulations by various governing bodies, including, for example, the SEC, which are charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law. Our efforts to comply with new and changing laws and regulations have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from seeking a business combination target.
Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance becomes available. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. If we fail to address and comply with these regulations and any subsequent changes, we may be subject to penalty and our business may be harmed.
Changes to laws or regulations or in how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations, interpretations or applications may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination.
We are subject to laws and regulations, and interpretations and applications of such laws and regulations, of national, regional, state and local governments and applicable non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and potentially other legal and regulatory requirements, and our consummation of an initial business combination may be contingent upon our ability to comply with certain laws, regulations, interpretations and applications and any post-business combination company may be subject to additional laws, regulations, interpretations and applications. Compliance with, and monitoring of, the foregoing 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, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination. 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.
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On January 24, 2024, the SEC issued final rules relating to SPACs (the “2024 SPAC Rules”), effective as of 125 days following the publication of the 2024 SPAC Rules in the Federal Register, that formally adopted some of the SEC’s proposed rules for SPACs that were released on March 30, 2022. The 2024 SPAC Rules, among other items, impose additional disclosure requirements in initial public offerings by SPACs and business combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; amend the financial statement requirements applicable to business combination transactions involving such companies; update and expand guidance regarding the general use of projections in SEC filings, as well as when projections are disclosed in connection with proposed business combination transactions; increase the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and could impact the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The 2024 SPAC Rules may materially adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete, and the costs associated with, our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We may reincorporate in another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on shareholders.
We may, in connection with our initial business combination, reincorporate in the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located or in another jurisdiction. The transaction may require a shareholder to recognize taxable income in the jurisdiction in which the shareholder is a tax resident or in which its members are resident if it is a tax transparent entity. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders to pay such taxes. Shareholders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after the reincorporation.
Neither the underwriter nor any of its affiliates has an obligation to provide us with potential investment opportunities or to devote any specified amount of time or support to our Company’s business.
Neither the underwriter nor any of its affiliates has any legal or contractual obligation to seek on our behalf or to present to us investment opportunities that might be suitable for our business, and may allocate any such opportunities at their discretion to us or other parties. We have no investment management, advisory, consulting or other agreement in place with the underwriter or any of its affiliates that obligates them to undertake efforts on our behalf or that govern the manner in which they will allocate investment opportunities. Even if the underwriter or one of its affiliates refer an opportunity to us, no assurance can be given that such opportunity will result in an acquisition agreement or our initial business combination.
We intend to offer each public shareholder the option to vote in favor of the proposed business combination and still seek redemption of such shareholders’ shares.
In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder (but not our initial shareholders or the underwriter) the right to have his, her or its Class A ordinary shares redeemed for cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) regardless of whether such shareholder votes for or against such proposed business combination or votes at all. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where shareholders are offered the right to redeem their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This threshold and the ability to seek redemption while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
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Because of our structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.
We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including private equity groups, venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Therefore, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking shareholder approval of our initial business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.
In addition, we do not intend to hold an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination. Unless we hold an annual meeting, all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, the entire Board of Directors will be considered for election, however our initial shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our business combination.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and del berate 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.
Our letter agreement with our initial shareholders, directors and officers and registration rights agreement may be amended, and provisions therein may be waived, without shareholder approval.
Our letter agreement with our Sponsor, officers and directors contains provisions relating to transfer restrictions of our founder shares, 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 with our written consent as well as the written consent of the Sponsor and our directors and officers to the extent they are the subject of any change, amendment, modification or waiver to the letter agreement. The written consent of the underwriter will also be required for an amendment of a provision of the letter agreement that subjects the Sponsor and our directors and officers to certain of the restrictions to be included in the underwriting agreement and pursuant to which the Sponsor and our officers and directors will agree that they will not, without the prior written consent of the underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, Class A ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A ordinary shares, until the earlier of: (1) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property (for more information, also see “Securities Eligible for Future Sale—Contractual Transfer Restrictions”). 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.
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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 outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, among other things, the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Shareholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. 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. As a result, we may redeem the public warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise the warrants. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to: (1) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so; (2) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants; or (3) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, we expect would be substantially less than the market value of your warrants. None of the private warrants will be redeemable by us.
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, 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 shares of Class A common 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 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 difference between the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares for the 10 trading day period ending on the 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.
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 some other blank check 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 warrants will trade. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one ordinary share and one whole warrant to purchase one 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 a business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for a third of the number of shares 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. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
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The target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Such requirement may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination.
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us for our taxes) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete a business combination. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.
If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.
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 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 ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second quarter of a fiscal year, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. 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 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.
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (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 or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. 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.
Members of our team and companies affiliated thereof have been, and may from time to time be, involved in legal proceedings or governmental investigations unrelated to our business.
Members of our team have been involved in a wide variety of businesses. Such involvement has, and may lead to, media coverage and public awareness. As a result of such involvement, members of our team and companies affiliated thereof have been, and may from time to time be, involved in legal proceedings or governmental investigations unrelated to our business. Any such proceedings or investigations may be detrimental to our or their reputation or result in other negative consequences or damages, which could negatively affect our ability to identify and complete an initial business combination and may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
After our initial business combination, it is possible that a majority of our directors and officers will live outside the United States and all or substantially 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 or substantially 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.
In particular, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or any other applicable jurisdictions would recognize and enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States or entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or any other applicable jurisdiction’s courts against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
If our team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such initial business combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If our team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign market, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
| ● | costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets; |
| ● | rules and regulations regarding currency redemption; |
| ● | complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
| ● | laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected; |
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| ● | tariffs and trade barriers; |
| ● | regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
| ● | longer payment cycles; |
| ● | tax consequences, such as tax law changes, including termination or reduction of tax and other incentives that the applicable government provides to domestic companies, 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; |
| ● | crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars; |
| ● | deterioration of political relations with the United States; |
| ● | obligatory military service by personnel; and |
| ● | government appropriation of assets. |
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 results of operations and financial condition.
We may seek acquisition opportunities in foreign countries that are subject to political, economic, and other uncertainties.
We may seek acquisition opportunities that have operations outside the United States. As a result, we may face political and economic risks and other uncertainties with respect these potential international operations. These risks may include the following, among other things:
| ● | loss of revenue, property, and equipment or delays in operations as a result of hazards such as expropriation, war, piracy, acts of terrorism, insurrection, civil unrest, and other political risks, including tension and confrontations among political parties; |
| ● | transparency issues in general and, more specifically, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, and other anti-corruption compliance laws and issues; |
| ● | increases in taxes and governmental royalties; |
| ● | unilateral renegotiation of contracts by governmental entities; |
| ● | redefinition of international boundaries or boundary disputes; |
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| ● | difficulties enforcing our rights against a governmental agency because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity and foreign sovereignty over international operations; |
| ● | difficulties enforcing our rights against a governmental agency in the absence of an appropriate and adequate dispute resolution mechanism to address contractual disputes, such as international arbitration; |
| ● | changes in laws and policies governing operations of foreign-based companies; |
| ● | foreign-exchange restrictions; and |
| ● | international monetary fluctuations and changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the currencies of other countries in which we conduct business. |
Outbreaks of civil and political unrest and acts of terrorism have occurred in countries close to or where we may seek an acquisition. Continued or escalated civil and political unrest and acts of terrorism in the countries in which we may operate could result in our curtailing operations or delays in project completions. In the event that countries in which we may operate experience civil or political unrest or acts of terrorism, especially in events where such unrest leads to an unseating of the established government, our operations could be materially impaired. Our potential international operations may also be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by laws, policies, and regulations of the United States affecting foreign trade and taxation, including U.S. trade sanctions. Realization of any of the factors listed above could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Corporate governance standards in emerging and frontier markets may not be as strict or developed as in the United States and such weakness may hide issues and operational practices that are detrimental to a target business.
General corporate governance standards in Emerging and Frontier Markets are weaker than those in the United States. This could result in unfavorable related party transactions, over-leveraging, improper accounting, family company interconnectivity and poor management. Local laws often do not go far enough to prevent improper business practices. Therefore, shareholders may not be treated impartially and equally as a result of poor management practices, asset shifting, conglomerate structures that result in preferential treatment to some parts of the overall company, and cronyism. The lack of transparency and ambiguity in the regulatory process also may result in inadequate credit evaluation and weakness that may precipitate or encourage financial crisis. In our evaluation on a business combination we will have to evaluate the corporate governance of a target and the business environment, and in accordance with United States laws for reporting companies take steps to implement practices that will cause compliance with all applicable rules and accounting practices. Notwithstanding these intended efforts, there may be endemic practices and local laws that could add risk to an investment we ultimately make and that result in an adverse effect on our operations and financial results.
If the government of the country in which we effect our initial business combination finds that the agreements we entered into to acquire control of a target business through contractual arrangements with one or more operating businesses do not comply with local governmental restrictions on foreign investment, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to significant penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
Some emerging and frontier market countries currently prohibit and/or restrict foreign ownership in certain “important industries,” including telecommunications, food production and heavy equipment. There are uncertainties under certain regulations whether obtaining a majority interest through contractual arrangements will comply with regulations prohibiting or restricting foreign ownership in certain industries. In addition, there can be restrictions on the foreign ownership of businesses that are determined from time to time to be in “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or those having “famous brand names” or “well-established brand names.”
If we or any of our potential future target businesses are found to be in violation of any existing or future local laws or regulations (for example, if we are deemed to be holding equity interests in certain of our affiliated entities in which direct foreign ownership is prohibited), the relevant regulatory authorities might have the discretion to:
| ● | revoke the business and operating licenses of the potential future target business; |
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| ● | confiscate relevant income and impose fines and other penalties; |
| ● | discontinue or restrict the operations of the potential future target business; |
| ● | require us or the potential future target business to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; |
| ● | restrict or prohibit our use of the proceeds of this offering to finance our businesses and operations in the relevant jurisdiction; or |
| ● | impose conditions or requirements with which we or the potential future target business may not be able to comply. |
Many of the economies in Emerging and Frontier markets are experiencing substantial inflationary pressures which may prompt the governments to take action to control the growth of the economy and inflation that could lead to a significant decrease in our profitability following our initial business combination.
While many of the economies in the emerging and frontier markets have experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, they have also experienced inflationary pressures. As governments take steps to address inflationary pressures, there may be significant changes in the availability of bank credits, interest rates, limitations on loans, restrictions on currency conversions and foreign investment. There also may be imposition of price controls. If prices for the products of our ultimate target business rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on our profitability. If these or other similar restrictions are imposed by a government to influence the economy, it may lead to a slowing of economic growth. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, the ultimate industry that we operate in may be affected more severely by such a slowing of economic growth.
Exchange rate fluctuations and currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
We intend to 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 be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and any determination that we violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (“FCPA”) and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We will have operations, agreements with third parties and make sales in the Asia Pacific region, which may experience corruption. Our proposed activities in the Asia Pacific region create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by one of the employees, consultants, or sales agents of our Company, because these parties are not always subject to our control. It will be our policy to implement safeguards to discourage these practices by our employees. Also, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the employees, consultants, or sales agents of our Company may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.
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We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise.
We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s area of expertise if a business combination target is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our Company. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination target, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a business combination target. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition 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 adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any holders who choose to retain their securities following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
If our management following our initial business combination is unfamiliar with U.S. securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following our initial business combination, any or all of our management could resign from their positions as officers of the Company, and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination could remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with U.S. securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with U.S. 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.
After our initial business combination, our results of operations and prospects could be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political, social and government 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.
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 elect directors.
In accordance with the 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 the Nasdaq. As an exempted company, there is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or extraordinary general meetings to appoint directors. Prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment or removal of directors.
A conflict of interest may arise from the need to obtain the consent of our Sponsor to our business combination.
Our Sponsor will not cause us to enter into any agreements with respect to our initial business combination without its approval. Interests of our Sponsor, or its respective affiliates may conflict with those of the rest of the shareholders, and our Sponsor can prevent us from consummating a business combination if they do not wish to proceed with such business combination, even if such business combination might be in the best interest of our public shareholders.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and administered from outside the United States, and a majority of our assets will be located within the United States after this offering. However, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on us or our officers or directors within the United States in a way that will permit a U.S. court to have jurisdiction over us. The majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after our initial business combination.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands, as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are considered persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
There is uncertainty as to whether the Cayman Islands courts would:
| ● | recognize or enforce against us judgments of U.S. courts based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and |
| ● | entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. |
We have been advised by Forbes Hare, our Cayman Islands counsel, that there is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law related to whether a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature. If such determination is made, the courts of the Cayman Islands will not recognize or enforce the judgment against a Cayman Islands company, such as our Company. As the courts of the Cayman Islands have yet to rule on making such a determination in relation to judgments obtained from U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws, it is uncertain whether such judgments would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. We have been further advised that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment:
| ● | is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; |
| ● | imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; |
| ● | is final; |
| ● | is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; |
| ● | was not obtained by fraud; and |
| ● | is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. |
Subject to the above limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken against the management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States-incorporated company.
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We are offering 20,000,000 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 units and founder shares sold will be used as set forth in the following table.
| Without Over-Allotment Option |
Over-Allotment Option Exercised |
|||||||
| Gross proceeds | ||||||||
| Offering(1) | $ | 200,000,000 | $ | 230,000,000 | ||||
| Private Units(2) | 7,750,000 | 8,912,500 | ||||||
| Total gross proceeds | $ | 207,750,000 | $ | 238,912,500 | ||||
| Offering expenses(3) | ||||||||
| Underwriting discount | $ | 4,000,000 | $ | 4,600,000 | ||||
| Legal fees and expenses | 200,000 | 200,000 | ||||||
| Nasdaq listing fee | 85,000 | 85,000 | ||||||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 35,000 | 35,000 | ||||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 75,000 | 75,000 | ||||||
| FINRA filing fee | 35,000 | 35,000 | ||||||
| SEC registration fee | 55,460 | 55,460 | ||||||
| Trustee fees and expenses | 40,000 | 40,000 | ||||||
| Miscellaneous expenses | 251,216 | 251,216 | ||||||
| Total offering expenses (other than underwriting discount) | $ | 776,676 | $ | 776,676 | ||||
| Net proceeds | ||||||||
| Held in the trust account from this offering | $ | 200,000,000 | $ | 230,000,000 | ||||
| Not held in the trust account from this offering | 2,973,324 | 3,535,824 | ||||||
| Total net proceeds (after estimated reimbursed offering expenses) | $ | 202,973,324 | $ | 233,535,824 | ||||
| Use of cash not held in the trust account(4) | ||||||||
| Legal, accounting and other third-party expenses related to business combination | $ | 400,000 | $ | 400,000 | ||||
| SEC filing and other legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations | 150,000 | 150,000 | ||||||
| Office space and other administrative expenses ($30,000 per month for up to 24 months) | 720,000 | 720,000 | ||||||
| D&O insurance | 250,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
| Nasdaq and other regulatory fees | 85,000 | 85,000 | ||||||
| Working capital to cover miscellaneous expense and general corporate purposes | 1,368,324 | 1,930,824 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 2,973,324 | $ | 3,535,824 | ||||
| (1) | Includes amounts payable to public shareholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination. |
| (2) | Includes $7,750,000 from the sale of 775,000 private units to the Sponsor and the underwriter (or $8,912,500 from the sale of 891,250 private units to the Sponsor and the underwriter, if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). |
| (3) | In the event that offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, they will be repaid using a portion of the $2,973,324 offering proceeds not held in the trust account and set aside for post-closing working capital expenses. 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. |
| (4) | These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth in this prospectus. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring a business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify an acquisition 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. |
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The Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. Of the gross proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, a total of $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed in a segregated trust account located in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills, notes and bonds 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 and which invest solely in U.S. Treasuries. Except for permitted withdrawals, none of the funds held in the trust account will be released from the trust account until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering; and (3) 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 (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 required time period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to our pre-business combination activity and related shareholders’ rights.
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 shares or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the purchase price in connection with our business combination, we may apply the cash released from the trust account that is not applied to the purchase price for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of acquired businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in consummating the initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of our initial business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. In this event, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from members of our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or our executive officers and directors, but such members of our management team are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
Commencing on the effective date of the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement with our Sponsor pursuant to which we will pay our Sponsor a monthly fee of $30,000 for company administration, 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.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we consummate our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the offering proceeds 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 additional private 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 units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
Furthermore, the redemption threshold may be further limited by the terms and conditions of our initial business combination. If too many public shareholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.
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A public shareholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) our consummation of our 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 our public shares if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or, if our charter documents are amended to so provide, (iii) the redemption of our public shares 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 redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 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), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Our initial shareholders will each enter into agreements with us, pursuant to which they will agree: (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination or a tender offer conducted prior to a business combination or in connection with it; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
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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. 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. Our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a share dividend immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the collective ownership of our Sponsor’s ownership through its ownership of the founder shares, at least at 25% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (assuming no purchase in this offering and not taking into account ownership of the private shares). Such issuance will significantly dilute the equity interest of our other shareholders. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
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The difference between the public offering price per share, assuming no value is attributed to the public warrants or the private warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with sale and exercise of warrants, including the private warrants. 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 issued and outstanding ordinary shares.
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, (iii) no working capital loans are converted into private units, as further described in this prospectus and (iv) no value is attributed to the warrants, and (B) assume the issuance of 20,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (or 23,000,000 Class A ordinary shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 7,666,667 founder shares (up to 1,000,000 of which are assumed to be forfeited in the scenario in which the over-allotment option is not exercised in full) (our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share). Such calculations do not reflect any dilution associated with the exercise of warrants as the warrants are accounted for as equity and are only exercisable following the consummation of our initial business combination. The assumed exercise of the warrants would cause the actual dilution to the public shareholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. In addition, as we intend to target an initial business combination with a target business whose enterprise value is greater than what we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, we may need to issue ordinary shares, preference shares and convertible equity or debt securities in connection with additional financing. Any such issuances of equity securities may significantly dilute the equity interest of public shareholders, 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.
The following table illustrates the difference between the public offering price per unit and our NTBV per share, as adjusted to give effect to this offering and assuming redemption of our public shares at varying levels and the full exercise and no exercise of the over-allotment option:
| As of March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Offering Price of $10.00 per Unit |
25% of Maximum Redemption |
50% of Maximum Redemption |
75% of Maximum Redemption |
Maximum Redemption |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NTBV | NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
NTBV | Difference between NTBV and Offering Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 7.11 | $ | 6.46 | $ | 3.54 | $ | 5.45 | $ | 4.55 | $ | 3.62 | $ | 6.38 | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | 10.67 | ||||||||||||||||
| Assuming No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 7.10 | $ | 6.45 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 5.43 | $ | 4.57 | $ | 3.59 | $ | 6.41 | $ | (0.71 | ) | $ | 10.71 | ||||||||||||||||
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For each of the redemption scenarios above, the NTBV was calculated as follows:
| No Redemptions | 25%
of Maximum Redemptions |
50%
of Maximum Redemptions |
75%
of Maximum Redemptions |
Maximum
Redemptions |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Without Over- Allotment |
With
Over- Allotment |
Without Over- Allotment |
With
Over- Allotment |
Without Over- Allotment |
With Over- Allotment |
Without Over- Allotment |
With
Over- Allotment |
Without Over- Allotment |
With Over- Allotment |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public offering price | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book deficit before this offering | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase attributable to public shareholders | 7.12 | 7.13 | 6.47 | 6.48 | 5.45 | 5.47 | 3.61 | 3.64 | (0.69 | ) | (0.65 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private shares | 7.10 | 7.11 | 6.45 | 6.46 | 5.43 | 5.45 | 3.59 | 3.62 | (0.71 | ) | (0.67 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dilution to public shareholders | $ | 2.90 | $ | 2.89 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.54 | $ | 4.57 | $ | 4.55 | $ | 6.41 | $ | 6.38 | $ | 10.71 | $ | 10.67 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of dilution to public shareholders | 29.04 | % | 28.92 | % | 35.51 | % | 35.37 | % | 45.69 | % | 45.50 | % | 64.05 | % | 63.79 | % | 107.09 | % | 106.65 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net tangible book deficit before this offering | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | $ | (114,688 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private shares(1) | 202,973,324 | 233,535,824 | 202,973,324 | 233,535,824 | 202,973,324 | 233,535,824 | 202,973,324 | 233,535,824 | 202,973,324 | 233,535,824 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plus: Offering costs accrued for or paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | 85,281 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Deferred underwriting commissions(2) | (8,000,000 | ) | (9,200,000 | ) | (8,000,000 | ) | (9,200,000 | ) | (8,000,000 | ) | (9,200,000 | ) | (8,000,000 | ) | (9,200,000 | ) | (8,000,000 | ) | (9,200,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Over-allotment liability | (219,000 | ) | - | (219,000 | ) | - | (219,000 | ) | - | (219,000 | ) | - | (219,000 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Amounts paid for redemptions(3) | - | - | (50,000,000 | ) | (57,500,000 | ) | (100,000,000 | ) | (115,000,000 | ) | (150,000,000 | ) | (172,500,000 | ) | (200,000,000 | ) | (230,000,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 194,724,917 | $ | 224,306,417 | $ | 144,724,917 | $ | 166,806,417 | $ | 94,724,917 | $ | 109,306,417 | $ | 44,724,917 | $ | 51,806,417 | $ | (5,275,083 | ) | $ | (5,693,583 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares outstanding prior to this offering | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | 7,666,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised | (1,000,000 | ) | - | (1,000,000 | ) | - | (1,000,000 | ) | - | (1,000,000 | ) | - | (1,000,000 | ) | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary shares offered | 20,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 23,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sale of private shares | 775,000 | 891,250 | 775,000 | 891,250 | 775,000 | 891,250 | 775,000 | 891,250 | 775,000 | 891,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Ordinary shares redeemed | - | - | (5,000,000 | ) | (5,750,000 | ) | (10,000,000 | ) | (11,500,000 | ) | (15,000,000 | ) | (17,250,000 | ) | (20,000,000 | ) | (23,000,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27,441,667 | 31,557,917 | 22,441,667 | 25,807,917 | 17,441,667 | 20,057,917 | 12,441,667 | 14,307,917 | 7,441,667 | 8,557,917 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of approximately $776,676 and underwriting commissions of $0.20 per unit, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding any units sold pursuant to the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units, or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to CCM (excluding deferred underwriting commissions). CCM has committed to using $2,750,000 of such funds to purchase from us 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
| (2) | Deferred underwriting commissions of $0.40 per unit sold in this offering, or up to $8,000,000 in the aggregate (or up to $9,200,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to CCM based on the percentage of funds remaining in the trust account after redemptions of public shares and to be placed in a trust account located in the United States and released to CCM only upon the completion of an initial business combination. See “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriter. |
| (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 Sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, 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.” |
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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 public units in this offering and the sale of the private units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities, assuming no exercise by the underwriter of their over-allotment option:
| March 31, 2025 |
||||||||
| Actual | As Adjusted | |||||||
| Notes payable to related party(1) | $ | 11,394 | $ | - | ||||
| Deferred underwriting commissions | - | 8,000,000 | ||||||
| Over-allotment liability(2) | - | 219,00 | ||||||
| Class A ordinary shares, subject to redemption, 0 and 20,000,000 shares which are subject to possible redemption, actual and as adjusted, respectively(3) | - | 200,000,000 | ||||||
| Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively | - | - | ||||||
| Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 445,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 775,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively (excluding 20,000,000 shares which are subject to possible redemption) | - | 78 | ||||||
| Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 7,666,667 and 6,666,667 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively(4) | 767 | 667 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 24,233 | - | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (54,407 | ) | (5,275,828 | ) | ||||
| Total shareholders’ (deficit) | $ | (29,407 | ) | $ | (5,275,083 | ) | ||
| Total capitalization | $ | (18,013 | ) | $ | 202,943,917 | |||
| (1) | Our 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 received from our Sponsor out of the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units. As of March 31, 2025, we had borrowed $11,394 under the promissory note with our Sponsor. | |
| (2) | As adjusted amount represents the fair value of the underwriter’s over-allotment option of 3,000,000 units, assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. | |
| (3) | Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, 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 (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination. | |
| (4) | Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of founder shares and as adjusted amount assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,000,000 founder shares. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. |
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a newly incorporated blank check company, incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company 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. 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 a business combination with us. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, shares and debt. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our common equity or any preferred equity that we may create in accordance with the terms of our charter documents, debt, or a combination of cash, common or preferred equity and debt.
The issuance of additional ordinary shares or the creation of one or more classes of preference shares during our initial business combination:
| ● | may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering who would not have pre-emption rights in respect of any such issue; |
| ● | may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if the rights, preferences, designations and limitations attaching to the preference shares are senior to those afforded our ordinary shares; |
| ● | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; |
| ● | may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and |
| ● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our public shares. |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:
| ● | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after our 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 any document governing such debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding; |
| ● | our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares; |
| ● | using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
| ● | limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; |
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| ● | 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 as of March 31, 2025, we had $25,000 in cash and working capital deficit of $114,688. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of this offering through $25,000 paid by the Sponsor to cover certain of our offering and formation costs in exchange for the issuance of the founder shares to our Sponsor and $300,000 in loans from our Sponsor.
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the units in this offering and the sale of the private units for an aggregate purchase price of $7,750,000 (or $8,912,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), after deducting offering expenses of approximately $776,676 and underwriting commissions of $4,000,000 (or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of up to $8,000,000, or up to $9,200,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $202,973,324 (or $233,535,824 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the underwriter’s 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 initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended business combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the trust account, we may, at any time (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank. The remaining approximately $2,973,324 (or $3,535,824 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $776,676, 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 $776,676, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
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We may withdraw interest to pay our taxes, if any. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our income taxes. To the extent that our equity or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, the estimated $2,973,324 of cash not held in the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months from the closing of this offering, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. We anticipate that we will incur the following approximate expenses to be paid from the $2,973,324 not held in the trust account (assuming that no over-allotment option has been exercised:
| ● | $400,000 of expenses for the legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the structuring and negotiating of our initial business combination; |
| ● | $150,000 of expenses for SEC filing and other legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations; |
| ● | $720,000 (equal to $30,000 per month for up to 24 months) for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support made available to us; |
| ● | $250,000 for directors and officers insurance; and |
| ● | $1,368,324 for working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses and general corporate purposes. |
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
As of March 31, 2025, we had $25,000 in cash and working capital deficit of $114,688. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
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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 will not have completed an assessment, nor will our independent registered public accounting firm have tested our systems, of internal controls. However, we have determined that we currently lack properly designed, implemented and effectively operating controls which would constitute a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. Management, with oversight from the board of directors and the audit committee of the board of directors will implement a remediation plan for this material weakness, including, among other things, designing and maintaining a formal control environment, accounting policies, procedures and controls to achieve complete, accurate and timely financial accounting, reporting and disclosures. We cannot be certain as to the timing of completion of our evaluation, testing, and remediation actions or their effect on our operations.
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 expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively also may 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.
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Related Party Transactions
Our Sponsor purchased 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares from us for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.003 per share, of which up to 1,000,000 founder shares remain subject to surrender for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. The purchase price per founder share was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the Company by the number of founder shares issued. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. Prior to the initial investment of $25,000 by our Sponsor, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. Our initial shareholders will collectively own 25% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding any shares underlying the private units). If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a capitalization or share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding any shares underlying the private units). The Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of our founder shares may ultimately 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. In connection with this offering, up to 1,000,000 founder shares are subject to surrender for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised during this offering; and an aggregate of 100,000 of which will be transferred pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement, to the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. Our Sponsor paid a nominal price for the founder shares and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution upon the purchase of our ordinary shares. Our Sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our board of directors may also approve the payment of advisory fees to directors in connection with such activities, including board committee service and extraordinary administrative and analytical services. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
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, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional private 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 units. The terms of such loans by our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or their affiliates, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
Our Sponsor has committed that it will purchase 500,000 private units (or 575,000 Private Units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and the underwriter has committed to purchase 275,000 private units (or 316,250 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering and the over-allotment option, as applicable. The foregoing purchases will only be made by our Sponsor if it is able to do so in accordance with Regulation M and Sections 9(a)(2) and 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. A portion of the proceeds we receive from the purchase of the private units will be placed in the trust account described below.
In addition, although there are no current plans to do so, in order to facilitate our initial business combination we may issue shares to investors in private placement transactions (so-called PIPE transactions) and our Sponsor may surrender or forfeit, transfer or exchange its founder shares or private shares 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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Pursuant to a registration rights agreement we will enter into an agreement with each of our initial shareholders on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. These holders, and the holders of units issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders have the right to include their securities in any other registration statement filed by us. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their respective lock-up restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The amounts in the trust account, will be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of the date of this prospectus, we 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 conducted no operations to date.
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. 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, including but not limited to reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, 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, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officer’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.
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General
We are a newly incorporated blank check company formed as a Cayman Islands exempted company 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, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified 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.
Our efforts to identify a potential initial business combination target will focus on companies operating in the “new economy sectors”, which we broadly define as those in technology, financial services, or media and that are located in Frontier Growth Markets (as defined herein). While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any country or sector, we intend to capitalize on decades of experience of our management team and board to identify, acquire and manage a business or businesses that we believe can benefit from their long-established relationships and expertise of having operated a successful investment management business in these regions. Our management team and board have extensive experience in identifying and executing investments at the global scale successfully across a number of sectors, and countries less followed by traditional investment managers. Given our management team and board members’ perspective on technology, quantum computing and other growth industries, having looked at over a thousand acquisition targets over the past decade, we will be examining in particular opportunities in artificial intelligence (“AI”) as well as in the rapidly growing crypto and decentralized finance (“DeFi”) areas.
For example, CSLM Acquisition Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement with Fusemachines, a company that provides AI-driven products and solutions such as AI Studio and AI Engines, and has established a global AI talent pool through its flagship AI Fellowship programs. As part of the CSLM Acquisition Corp. transaction evaluation process, Charles T. Cassel III and Jonathan Binder participated in the diligence and assessment of a broad universe of acquisition targets, including the eventual agreement with Fusemachines. Their roles at Consilium Investment Management further support their ability to evaluate, underwrite and manage complex cross-border investments in the “new economy sectors.”
In addition to CSLM Acquisition Corp., members of our management team and affiliates have been involved in multiple special purpose acquisition companies. Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, has invested in SPACs since 2008 and brings significant experience across the SPAC lifecycle. He has invested in private securities of SPAC sponsors, SPAC IPOs, secondary trading of SPAC securities, and deSPAC investments in both equity and debt. Mr. Mittal was also a member of the sponsor of GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp., which completed its business combination with Bitcoin Depot Inc. (NASDAQ: BTM) in 2023. Mr. Mittal also serves as CEO and CFO of Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I, which announced a business combination with Nexx HoldCo, LLC (NexxBuild). Christopher Bradley, our independent director nominee, has served in key roles for multiple SPACs. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. (which closed a merger with OneSpaWorld), Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II (which closed a merger with ARKO Holdings), and Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III (which closed a merger with Biote Holdings). He currently serves as Chairman, CEO and CFO of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4. In each of these roles, Mr. Bradley has been responsible for target sourcing, evaluation, and execution.
Our Sponsor is CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd, an affiliate of CIM, an SEC-registered investment management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Charles T. Cassel III, our Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Binder, one of our directors, are principals of CIM. Given our affiliation with CIM, we intend to capitalize on its global platform and investment expertise which we believe, together with the extensive experience of our management team, well positions our Company to be the partner of choice for quality Frontier Growth companies seeking public Sponsorship. CIM will assist with general diligence, administrative, and advisory support we require in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor. However, we have not entered into a formal agreement with CIM and we will not compensate CIM for such services. The founders of CIM have over six decades of experience in Emerging Markets and Frontier Growth Markets. They have deep relationships with companies, management teams, policy makers, and advisors in the space. CIM and its founders have participated in private equity and mezzanine financing transactions and will rely on their broad network in Frontier Growth Markets in order to identify target acquisitions that have the desire to list in the United States and have the infrastructure necessary to comply with regulatory requirements.
Our Sponsor is also an affiliate of Meteora, an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments. Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora. Meteora will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and we will not compensate Meteora for such services. Meteora’s principals have previous experience across the full lifecycle of SPACs, from the initial public offering to the de-SPAC business combination process. Meteora will provide resources including a network of relationships, extensive SPAC knowledge base and a standardized SPAC operating system to streamline the business combination process. Meteora’s ability to invest across the entire SPAC capital structure (risk capital, primary market, secondary market, PIPEs, convertible notes and other special situations) has created an end-to-end platform and partner to SPAC sponsors. Furthermore, Meteora has diverse sector experience across digital assets, technology, media & telecommunications, fintech, energy, consumer & retail, business & distribution services, healthcare, aerospace and defense. Meteora believes that its access to numerous private equity and venture capital backed private companies provides a robust pipeline for potential acquisition candidates.
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Consilium Investment Management LLC
Our Sponsor is an affiliate of CIM, an SEC-registered investment management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Established in 2004, Consilium Investment Management has a long track record of successfully investing in Frontier Growth Markets and has been a top-quartile performer since the inception of its Frontier Equity Fund in 2009. CIM will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and in our search for a target or business combination and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and we will not compensate CIM for such services.
CIM has a deeply knowledgeable investment team across Frontier Growth Markets with nearly 167 years of combined experience. Its entrepreneurial, cross-collaborative approach enables the team to act with speed and certainty across a wide range of geographies. CIM’s objective across all its investment activities is to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns to investors on a consistent basis.
Over the years, CIM has targeted regions and countries with stable monetary and political systems, two ingredients which we believe are essential foundations for economic growth. These, combined with company-specific drivers, are the cornerstones of CIM’s process of finding quality growth companies. In particular, we expect outsized growth in the new economy sectors across these regions, driven by private sector expansion, technological innovation, a growing young and middle-class population, increasing consumption, structural economic and policy reforms and demographic changes.
CIM manages two products targeted at Frontier Growth Markets. The Consilium Frontier Equity Fund, LP (the “Fund”) focuses on listed equities opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. The Consilium Extended Opportunities Fund, LP (“EOF”) focuses on less liquid opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets, and targets a three-year time horizon to extract value from companies that are relatively unknown.
EOF and Consilium Investment Capital, Inc., a Florida corporation and parent of CIM and parent of the Fund’s general partner (“CIC”), are the members of the Sponsor.
The founders of CIM have over six decades of experience in Emerging Markets and Frontier Growth Markets. They have deep relationships with companies, management teams, policy makers, and advisors in the space. CIM and its founders have participated in private equity and mezzanine financing transactions and will rely on their broad network in Frontier Growth Markets in order to identify target acquisitions that have the desire to list in the United States and have the infrastructure necessary to comply with US regulatory requirements.
CIM is not being compensated by us for the general diligence, administrative, and advisory support it will provide in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor.
Meteora
Our Sponsor is an affiliate of Meteora Capital, LLC, an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments (“Meteora”). Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora. Meteora will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and will not receive any compensation for such role. Meteora’s principals have previous experience across the full lifecycle of SPACs, from the initial public offering to the de-SPAC business combination process. Meteora will provide resources including a network of relationships, extensive SPAC knowledge base and a standardized SPAC operating system to streamline the business combination process. Meteora’s ability to invest across the entire SPAC capital structure (risk capital, primary market, secondary market, PIPEs, convertible notes and other special situations) has created an end-to-end platform and partner to SPAC sponsors. Furthermore, Meteora has diverse sector experience across digital assets, technology, media and telecommunications, fintech, energy, consumer & retail, business & distribution services, healthcare, aerospace and defense. Meteora believes that its access to numerous private equity and venture capital backed private companies provides a robust pipeline for potential acquisition candidates. Meteora is expected to purchase units from the underwriter in this offering at the offering price. Meteora is neither a broker-dealer nor affiliated with one and is not acting as an underwriter in connection with this offering.
Meteora is not being compensated by us for the general diligence, administrative, and advisory support it will provide in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor.
Management Team
We believe that our management team is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing set of acquisition opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets and that our local and global contacts and relationships, ranging from industry executives, private and public business owners and private equity professionals to our extensive network of trusted advisors and consultants across various sectors, will allow us to generate an attractive transaction for our shareholders. In addition, our management team has an established track record in accessing proprietary M&A opportunities among entrepreneurs and family-owned global businesses.
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Charles T. Cassel III, Chief Executive Officer, is the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIM. Mr. Cassel is responsible for the risk management for CIM’s investment strategies, the day-to-day operations of CIM and all non-equity portfolio management initiatives and also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer of CIM. Before co-founding Consilium in 2004, Mr. Cassel held the position as Head of Emerging Markets Portfolio Management at Standard Asset Management from 1999 to 2004. Prior to that, from 1997 to 1999, Mr. Cassel was at Americas Trust Bank as an Emerging Market debt portfolio manager and was earlier the Chief Financial Officer for the US subsidiary of Banco Cafetero de Colombia from 1992 to 1997, where, among other responsibilities, he ran the bank’s international treasury book. Earlier from 1985 to 1991, he was a Portfolio Manager of mortgage-backed securities at Bank Atlantic, a federally chartered savings bank. From 2014 to 2017, Mr. Cassel served as a director of Panache Beverages, Inc. Since January 2022, Mr. Cassel has served as CEO, CFO and Director of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors and CEO of Edgewater Spirits LLC since January 2023. Mr. Cassel holds a B.A. in Economics from Washington & Lee University (1985) and a Masters in Accounting from Nova Southeastern University (1996). Additionally, he is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute.
Vikas Mittal, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, has served as the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora since January 2022. Over Mr. Mittal’s 20 years on the buy-side as a principal investor, he has deployed capital across event-driven investment strategies. Mr. Mittal was a member of GSR II Meteora Acquisition Corp., where a Meteora investment professional also served as CFO. The SPAC raised $316.25 million in February 2022 and subsequently completed its initial business combination with Bitcoin Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ: BTM), a cryptocurrency platform operating a network of Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) and a digital wallet application, in June 2023. Bitcoin Depot was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to Bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot’s kiosks and at thousands of name-brand retail locations through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 8,400 kiosk locations as of early 2025. This represents over 30% growth in the number of kiosks since the closing of the business combination. Mr. Mittal has also served as Chief Financial Officer of Berto Acquisition Corp. since June 2025. Prior to Meteora, Mr. Mittal was an investment professional and member GCM, having joined GCM in 2005. Before transitioning to the buy-side, Mr. Mittal was part of the founding team that launched Raymond James’ TMT investment banking practice in Palo Alto, California, in 2002 focusing on mid-market mergers and acquisitions and private placements. Mr. Mittal earned a B.S. in Finance from University of Florida in 2002, summa cum laude, and earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in 2012. Mr. Mittal is also a CFA holder.
Jonathan M. Binder, Director, is the co-Founder of CIM and has served Chief Investment Officer for CIM’s Frontier Equity since 2004 and Portfolio Manager for CIM’s Extended Opportunities Fund Strategies since 2018. Prior to co-founding Consilium, Mr. Binder spent four years at Standard Asset Management, a division of the Standard Bank Group of South Africa, as Chief Investment Officer, from 1999 to 2004. Mr. Binder had previously spent two years at Americas Trust Bank where he was an Emerging Market equity hedge fund portfolio manager. Prior to this, Mr. Binder was Managing Director of Latin American Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell from 1993 to 1997 and before that, launched James Capel’s equity sales trading and research business in Latin America in 1986. Since January 2022, Mr. Binder has served as Chairman and Director of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors. He graduated from the University of Bristol, England, with a B.Sc. (Econ) joint honors degree in Economics and Politics (1983). Mr. Binder is an alumnus of Eton College.
Independent Board
Christopher Bradley, is a director nominee. Mr. Bradley is a Managing Director at Mistral Equity Partners, which he joined in 2008. Mr. Bradley brings over 20 years of experience in identifying acquisition candidates, board service, due diligence experience including accounting and financial modeling acumen, and a background in deal structuring. He currently serves as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4 since 2024 and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III until it completed its business combination in May 2022 with Biote, Corp., and has since been retained by Biote as an advisor. Mr. Bradley served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II from 2019 until its merger with ARKO (NASDAQ:ARKO) in December 2020. He served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. I from 2017 until its business combination with OneSpaWorld (NASDAQ:OSW) in 2019. Since 2016, Mr. Bradley has served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of The Beacon Consumer Incubator Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in consumer technology companies. Mr. Bradley also previously served on the board of directors of Creminelli Fine Meats, LLC, a privately held premium-priced charcuterie wholesaler from 2016 to January 2020, The Lovesac Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOVE) from 2010 to 2019, Roth CH Acquisition Corp. since 2023, and Carnegie Park Capital since 2024. Mr. Bradley also served as Chief Financial Officer of Tastemaker Acquisition Corp. from 2021 to 2023 and AF Acquisition Corp. from 2021 to 2022. Mr. Bradley has also guided Mistral portfolio companies in an operational role and, through Mistral, served on the board of Jamba, Inc. (NASDAQ: JMBA) from 2009 to 2013. Prior to Mistral, Mr. Bradley served as an investment banker at Banc of America Securities from 2005 to 2006, a Manager in Burger King’s strategy group in 2004, and a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers management consulting practice from 1999 to 2004. He is also currently serving on the advisory board of Carnegie Park Capital, a private investment fund. Mr. Bradley earned an A.B. from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.
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Mathew August is a director nominee. Mr. August is the Managing Director and Executive Chairman of Atlas Capital Partners, a New York–based single family office investment firm and merchant bank, and its related entity, ACP Animus Capital Partners, positions he has held since 2016. He has over 15 years of experience in long-term investing, advising, and building companies across the venture capital, private equity, and public markets. His investment and advisory focus spans a broad range of industries, including infrastructure, technology, digital assets, defense, consumer products, and strategic critical resources. Prior to founding Atlas, Mr. August was the Founder and Vice Chairman of a Canadian-based merchant bank, where he advised on and led transactions totaling in the billions across multiple sectors. Earlier in his career, he served as an FX desk trader at Olympia Trust Company (TSX: OLY). Mr. August currently incubates, invests in, and advises a number of public and private companies, and serves on both advisory boards and formal boards of directors. His current and past affiliations include Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc.; GSR III Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ); Colonial Energy Capital Inc.; Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML); Edge Total IQ (TSX); Volt Lithium Ltd. (TSX); Onefluent Media Inc.; Funny Water Beverages LLC; NexMetals Mining Corp. (TSX); BIOSG; and Streamex Commodities Exchange Corp. (NASDAQ: BSGM), among others.
Brian Rudick is a director nominee. Brian Rudick is a seasoned finance and digital assets executive with a broad track record spanning traditional banking, crypto markets, and strategic advisory roles. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Upexi Inc. (Nasdaq: UPXI), where he oversees the company’s cryptocurrency strategy, investor relations, marketing, and go-to-market planning. Immediately prior, Mr. Rudick was Head of Research at GSR, the world’s largest digital-asset market-maker, where he generated key thought leadership and guided GSR’s investment into Upexi’s $100 million private placement. Before transitioning to digital assets, he spent over a decade on Wall Street, primarily managing long short portfolios of bank stocks at Citadel, Balyasny, and Millennium. Mr. Rudick began his career at the Federal Reserve, conducting research central to the monetary-policy process. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Duke University, an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is a CFA Charterholder. Mr. Rudick’s experience spans traditional asset management, digital markets, and macroeconomic research.
Danel Calvillo Armendariz is a director nominee. Danel Calvillo Armendariz is an experienced financial executive with deep expertise in banking, financial regulation, and digital assets. Since January 2022, he has served as Managing Partner of Inertia Advisory LLC, where he advises financial institutions, family offices, and regulated funds on investment structuring, digital asset licensing, and regulatory compliance. He has led engagements with the Roatán Financial Services Authority and secured VASP licenses from the Bank of Spain for institutional clients, including oversight of stablecoin-based remittance operations. Mr. Calvillo Armendariz is also the legal representative of Motus LLC and Motus Wyoming LLC, subsidiaries of Inertia Advisory, where he oversees financial services licenses, digital asset operations, and stablecoin distribution, including direct minting and redemption capabilities with Tether. He serves as Director of Inertia Funds Ltd., where he led the launch of a MiFID II-regulated crypto index fund listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Previously, Mr. Calvillo Armendariz worked in the Blockchain and Digital Assets division of BBVA, contributing to the bank’s digital asset offerings in Switzerland and global strategy development. He holds board roles at Espresso Americano España and Goldsmith Investments SL. Mr. Calvillo Armendariz earned his Master’s in Banking and Financial Regulation from Universidad de Navarra, where his thesis focused on the role of CBDCs in commercial banking. His experience spans global finance, digital infrastructure, and regulatory innovation.
Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew is a director nominee. Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew is the Founder and President of SoKat Consulting LLC, a premier artificial intelligence solutions firm delivering cutting-edge machine learning and data science applications to U.S. federal agencies and top-tier financial institutions. He also serves as an Associate Professor of Finance at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where he teaches AI Essentials for Business, Cryptos and Blockchain, and Entrepreneurial Finance. A recognized thought leader at the intersection of finance and technology, Dr. Liew has received multiple Dean’s Awards for Faculty Excellence. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Portfolio Management, Journal of Alternative Investments, Journal of Financial Data Science, and the Journal of the British Blockchain Association. Before founding SoKat, Dr. Liew was Vice President at Carlyle Asset Management Group, Senior Researcher at Campbell & Company—a multi-billion dollar quantitative hedge fund—and began his career at Morgan Stanley as a Quantitative Strategist, building models for trading and risk management. Dr. Liew earned a Ph.D. in Finance from Columbia University and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago. His work bridges academia, FinTech innovation, and real-world impact in the rapidly evolving AI and financial technology landscape.
The past performance of our Sponsor and directors and officers and their respective affiliates, including CIM and any funds, is not a guarantee either (1) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (2) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of members of our management team or our Sponsor group or their respective affiliates, our Independent Board, or any related investment’s performance, as indicative of our future performance of an investment in the Company or the returns the Company will, or is likely to, generate going forward.
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Market Opportunity
We believe the convergence of blockchain innovation and underpenetrated financial infrastructure in frontier growth markets represents a generational investment opportunity. Frontier markets in the Middle East North Africa (“MENA”), Sub-Saharan Africa (“SSA”), South Asia (“SA”) and Southeast Asia (“SEA”) are rapidly digitizing, and crypto rails are increasingly leapfrogging legacy systems to provide access to payments, remittances, lending, and savings products.
We are especially focused on:
| ● | Blockchain infrastructure (L1s, L2s, rollups) |
| ● | Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) |
| ● | Institutional-grade custody, staking, and compliance solutions |
| ● | Cross-border payments and remittance platforms |
| ● | Decentralized financial services (DeFi) with real-world integration |
| ● | Emerging market exchanges and wallet providers |
| ● | Stablecoin on-ramps and payment rails |
Our strategy is to identify companies that are building real utility and adoption with a clear regulatory path and strong alignment with local market dynamics. Our ideal partner is mission-driven, globally scalable, and benefits from increased institutional and retail crypto adoption across emerging markets.
While our primary focus will be in digital asset infrastructure and applications, we will remain opportunistic in pursuing high-quality companies aligned with our expertise across the new economy sectors within frontier growth markets.
We believe this growth in these new economy sectors across Frontier Growth Markets will be driven by private sector expansion, technological innovation, a growing young and middle-class population, increasing consumption, structural economic and policy reforms and demographic changes in the region. We believe that Frontier Growth Markets are entering a new era of economic growth, particularly in the new economy sectors, which we expect will result in attractive initial business combination opportunities for attractive risk-adjusted returns. These markets are host to a fast growing population of over 2.8 billion people, real GDP of approximately $11 trillion as of 2023, a proportion of young people with access to internet economy ecosystems and growing rapidly, often by executing business models that are already proven in more developed markets (delivery and logistics apps, e-commerce and social commerce, media streaming, mobile wallets, etc.), and in other instances innovative, tailored solutions addressing specific market needs (alternative finance, mobile payments). We believe that the largest global companies are often unable to localize their products and services to be compelling (e.g. cash on delivery to address low credit card penetration in some markets).
| ● | Middle East North Africa: we believe relatively higher incomes (especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) countries) and internet access with very low but fast-growing e-commerce penetration are creating opportunities in e-commerce, delivery services, classifieds and internet infrastructure. |
| ● | Sub-Saharan Africa: In SSA, owing to a significant unbanked population, card and digital payments remain low. This has led to significant growth in mobile wallets, alternative lenders and payments, and remittance businesses that we believe represent attractive potential opportunities for us. |
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| ● | South Asia (excluding India): With a population of over 400 million across Pakistan and Bangladesh, with nearly half under the age of 25 as of 2021, rapidly rising per capita incomes and urbanization levels, we believe South Asia is a very attractive market for technology and technology enabled businesses in sectors such as e-commerce, ed-tech and food-tech. We believe high mobile penetration rates in South Asia have created opportunities for digital finance services such as mobile wallets, consumer finance and mobile payments for a population that is largely unbanked and underbanked as well as digital media services like streaming and gaming. |
| ● | South East Asia: SEA represents relatively more mature markets with higher income levels and more developed infrastructure as compared to MENA, SSA and SA, including higher e-commerce spending and significant time spent online by the high proportion of young population. This has led to an explosion of new media and gaming companies alongside more mature e-commerce, internet infrastructure, classifieds and other specialized players. |
Middle East and North Africa
With a population of 508 million and a nominal GDP of approximately $4.32 trillion in 2023, MENA includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in North Africa. It also includes the GCC countries, comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Iraq, and the Levantine nations of Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
We believe the growth of e-commerce in MENA has further shed light on the necessity of hard and soft infrastructure to support its growth. In particular, cash on delivery is today approximately 60% of all e-commerce sales in MENA. MasterCard finds that post-COVID consumers in MENA are 95% more likely to consider using an emerging payment method including cryptocurrency, biometrics, contactless or QR codes in the future. We believe there are opportunities for companies to address payments, logistics, and deliveries. For these reasons, we believe there are significant market opportunities in these segments.
Sub-Saharan Africa
With a population of 1.26 billion, and a nominal GDP of approximately $2.04 trillion in 2023, we believe Africa will be a major future economic source and a driver of global growth. GDP grew by 4% per year between 2010 and 2019, more than twice that of the EU-28 (1.7%) and Latin America (1.7%) over the same period. We believe African demographics are arguably the best in the world, with population growth to grow by 87% between 2020 and 2050 and reach 2.5 billion. By 2025, 45% of all Africans will be urbanized. As of 2020, consumers in Africa’s large metropolitan areas spent 79% more than national averages on goods and services.
In particular, collective findings by Google and the IFC indicate that the region’s internet economy has the potential to contribute $180 billion to Africa’s economy by 2025, and estimates that Africa’s internet gross domestic product may rise to $712 billion by 2050. In addition, these collective findings indicate that, despite the setback from COVID-19, the resilience of the internet economy, coupled with private consumption, strong developer talent, public and private investment, investments in digital infrastructure, and new government policies and regulations will continue to drive this growth in Africa.
South Asia
With a population of 419 million and a nominal GDP of approximately $775 billion as of 2023, the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh have sizable populations and have demonstrated fast economic growth. In particular, Bangladesh has grown its GDP in excess of 7% per annum since 2014.
Smartphone penetration in Pakistan has grown to nearly 98 million subscribers, or 6.5 times since 2013 as shown by the Pakistan Telecom Authority. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Bangladesh has over 89.9% smartphone penetration as of 2022.
As mobile adoption in both Pakistan and Bangladesh switches from 3G and 4G to 5G, we believe there will be tremendous opportunities as the share of people online grows. In particular, we believe South Asia presents tremendous market opportunities for new economy companies.
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Southeast Asia
With a population of 678 million and a nominal GDP of approximately $3.9 trillion in 2023, we believe the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, made up of countries in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos) will become a major regional economic force and a driver of global growth. ASEAN remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world with most economies seeing growth of 5% or more per annum and according to estimates by ASEAN, and will become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030 after the United States, China, and the European Union.
With approximately 480 million internet users in the region, of which nearly half connect to the internet primarily through their mobile phones, Southeast Asia boasts one of the most engaged mobile internet audiences in the world. In addition, with the number of people aged 15 to 35 projected to reach 218 million by 2030, Southeast Asia’s internet economy is experiencing rapid growth, with projections to reach $1 trillion by 2030. This growth is fueled by a young, tech-savvy population, increasing smartphone adoption, and a burgeoning middle class.
In addition, we believe the Southeast Asian region presents market opportunities in the financial sector given the gap between needs of the populace and the volume of electronic payment and transfer volumes. We believe that this gap coupled with low insurance penetration in these markets create significant market opportunities in these segments. We also believe that there are not many funding sources for middle and late-stage fundraising in the Southeast Asian consumer internet space, which we believe provides potential opportunities.
Our Business Strategy
Our business strategy consists of identifying and completing a business combination with one or more businesses or entities within Frontier Growth Markets, underpinned by an ESG mandate to create long-term value for our shareholders. We believe our management team and directors’ experience and local contacts are differentiated and will enable us to successfully identify and execute an initial business combination. We plan to leverage CIM and our management team and directors’ extensive network of relationships, ranging from senior management teams at public and private companies and advisors with connections to Frontier Growth Markets, to assist in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination.
We believe our team’s strong network and differentiated expertise will help us execute on our business strategy:
Local knowledge and connections:
Our management team has more than 80 years of combined experience investing in Frontier Growth Markets.
At various times some members of our management team have lived and worked in certain markets we are targeting, which has enabled them to create professional and social networks. These relationships span the financial, corporate, legal, and political sectors. We believe their relationships and local knowledge will give our Company credibility with businesses within Frontier Growth Markets and help aid in thorough company vetting and due diligence processes.
Global platform and resources:
Our management team will leverage CIM’s international investment platform to help identify, evaluate and perform comprehensive due diligence on companies in connection with the business combination. In addition, Consilium’s network of portfolio companies and advisors may be able to help a potential target expand and grow within Frontier Growth Markets.
Experience with complex and unique situations:
Our team has experience executing complex transactions and navigating complicated regulatory environments. We believe this expertise will enable our management team to structure and execute an attractive cross-border transaction. We expect to be a long-term partner to the post-merger entity and to work together with the management team to assist in the transition to a U.S.-listed company and drive long-term growth. We believe our global investment platform, deep local relationships within Frontier Growth Markets, and commitment to ESG initiatives differentiate us as a value-add partner for a leading Frontier Growth Markets company.
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Focus on ESG investing:
CIM is a signatory to the UN Principles of Responsible Investing, the Intentional Endowments Network, and a member of the Emerging Market Investors Alliance, an industry group for responsible investing in Emerging Markets. Our management will be guided by ESG principles when evaluating potential targets and will seek to enhance them in the chosen company.
Our Investment Criteria
Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following characteristics and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating potential target businesses or entities. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in assessing acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with one or more businesses or entities that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to pursue an initial business combination with companies that have the following attributes:
| ● | Operations in the new economy sectors across our target markets. We believe that disruptive new economy companies benefit from highly favorable macroeconomic trends in our target markets. These trends are in their infancy, and we believe they have headroom for expansion and growth which makes investing in these sectors attractive. |
| ● | Established business models. Most of our target businesses will have models that we believe are well established in their home and core markets with relevant localization by market and established paths to profitable growth. In addition, we will seek a business that we believe has a sustainable competitive advantage as a result of differentiated de-risked business model, strong technology component, brand recognition and marketing capabilities or any other characteristics that are difficult to replicate. |
| ● | Sector leading KPIs and unit economics. We will seek to merge with a company with critical mass that enjoys sustainable unit economics in its sector. We believe that healthy growth must be supported by strong sector KPIs steering the Company in the right direction to drive profitability and free cash flow generation. |
| ● | Scalability. We seek to invest in a business with a scalable platform and operations to take advantage of growth opportunities, including through geographical expansion and synergistic acquisitions. We intend to leverage our experience in scaling businesses in order to help accelerate growth. |
| ● | Underpenetrated and growing total addressable market. Based on our prior research and personal experience, we believe Frontier Growth Markets present a significant opportunity to invest in companies which serve an underpenetrated total addressable market. These countries hold significant potential due to their geographical size, favorable population trends and the emergence of a middle-class in certain countries. |
| ● | Strong management team and culture. We will look to partner with a passionate, experienced management team that is capable of scaling a business. We will also evaluate ways to support the team in its transition to becoming a U.S.-listed company and beyond. |
| ● | Market leadership. We will seek to combine with a company with a leading position in its geography, market share, volume, technology, product capabilities, or other attributes across an industry or segment, significant barriers to entry and a sustainable competitive advantage. |
| ● | Attractive valuation. We believe that valuations of some companies in Frontier Growth Markets are discounted relative to U.S. peers. We look to seek an acquisition of a company that has potential to grow valuation levels in line with its global peers. |
| ● | Focus on ESG and social empowerment. We will look for companies focused on making a positive impact across a variety of ESG themes within Frontier Growth Markets, as well as on a larger scale. |
Our Acquisition Process
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, inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information about the target and its industry which will be made available to us. If we determine to move forward with a particular target, we will proceed to structure and negotiate the terms of the business combination transaction.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds available for us to use to complete another business combination.
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Our ability to identify and evaluate a target company may be impacted by significant competition among other SPACs in pursuing a business combination transaction candidate and the significant competition may impact the attractiveness of the acquisition terms that we will be able to negotiate.
We have not selected any business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Our Sponsor and directors and officers are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a business similar to ours. These entities may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. Subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, none of the members of our management team have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. Our management team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our Sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors (including other special purpose acquisition companies), may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law and any other applicable fiduciary duties.
Our directors and officers presently have, 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. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, or in the case of a non-compete restriction, may not present such opportunity to us at all, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Our directors and officers are also not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
For example, Mr. Binder is the co-Founder of CIM and Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager for CIM, Mr. Cassel is the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIM. CIM is an SEC-registered investment management firm, and each of Mr. Binder and Mr. Cassel owes fiduciary duties to CIM. In addition, all of our officers and directors are officers and directors of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors. Our Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from Sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination. Any other special purpose acquisition company may also have terms that are the same or different than our terms, including terms that are more favorable to its investors and/or potential target businesses. Moreover, entities in which our directors and officers are affiliated with may enter into agreements or other arrangements with businesses, which agreements or arrangements may limit or restrict our ability to enter into a business combination with such business.
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. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to the Company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Certain of our directors and officers 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 determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.”
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Our Sponsor is managed by its two directors, Charles T. Cassel III and Vikas Mittal and is legally and beneficially owned (i) 51% by Samara CSLM LLC and (ii) 49% by Consilium Investment Capital Inc. Consilium Investment Capital Inc. is legally and beneficially owned 50% by Mr. Cassel and 50% by Mr. Binder. Samara CSLM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is legally and beneficially owned solely by Vikas Mittal and his immediate family. As a result, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Binder, and Mr. Mittal may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including the appointment and removal of our directors, amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our Sponsor purchases any Class A ordinary shares in this offering or in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over such actions. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company.
Consilium may become aware of a potential business combination opportunity that may be an attractive opportunity for our Company. Consilium and our Company may each assess opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. In particular, CIM manages two products targeted at Frontier Growth Markets. The Fund focuses on listed equities opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets. EOF focuses on less liquid opportunities within Frontier Growth Markets, and targets a three-year time horizon to extract value from companies that are relatively unknown. Consilium is not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services to our Company. Consilium’s role with respect to our Company is expected to be advisory in nature. Consilium may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to its investment vehicles and to companies in which Consilium has invested. As a result, Consilium may have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to certain Consilium funds, other investment vehicles or other entities before other parties, including our Company. Additionally, certain companies in which Consilium has invested may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest because Consilium may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction.
We believe that any such potential conflicts of interest of Consilium will be naturally mitigated by the differing nature of targets that Consilium typically considers most attractive for its activities and the types of initial business combination opportunities that we expect to be most attractive for our Company.
Our advisory board members are not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services for our Company. Such advisors’ roles with respect to our Company are expected to be advisory in nature. Our advisory board members may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to certain companies but do not have any fiduciary obligations to our Company. As a result, our advisory board members may have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to certain other companies before our Company. Additionally, certain companies affiliated with our advisory board members may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest because our advisory board members may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Our advisory board members are not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our Company or provide any other services for our Company.”
Past experience or performance of our team and our advisory board and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our team or our advisory board or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance. See “Risk Factor — Past performance of Consilium, Meteora, our team and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the Company.” No member of our management team has any experience operating a special purpose acquisition company. See “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for additional information.
We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private shares will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Additionally, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses and we will pay our Sponsor an amount equal to $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will repay any loans which may be made by our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination; up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Upon consummation of this offering, we will also reimburse our Sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our Sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our Sponsor or its affiliates:
| Entity/Individual | Amount
of Compensation to be Received or |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid | ||
| Sponsor | 7,666,667 Class B Ordinary shares(1) | $25,000 | ||
| 500,000 Private Units(1) | $5,000,000 | |||
| Up to $300,000 | Repayment of loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. | |||
| Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit | Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. | |||
| Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination | Services in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. | |||
| Sponsor | $30,000 per month | Office space, administrative and shared personnel support services |
| (1) | Assumes no exercise of the over-allotment option and the full surrender for no consideration of 1,000,000 founder shares that are subject to surrender for no consideration by our initial shareholders depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. |
The low price that our Sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private shares will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Additionally, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses and we will pay our Sponsor’s affiliate an amount equal to $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support made available to us, as described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will repay any loans which may be made by our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination; up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Upon consummation of this offering, we will also reimburse our Sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.
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The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor for the founder shares may significantly dilute the implied value of your public shares in the event we consummate an initial business combination, and our Sponsor and other initial shareholders 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. The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial shareholders and the public shareholders:
| Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | Average Price | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | Per Share | ||||||||||||||||
| Initial Shareholders(1) | 6,666,667 | 24.30% | $ | 25,000 | 0.01% | % | $ | 0.004 | ||||||||||||
| Placement Units | 775,000 | 2.82% | $ | 7,750,000 | 3.73% | % | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||||
| Public Shareholders | 20,000,000 | 72.88% | $ | 200,000,000 | 96.26% | % | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||||
| 27,441,667 | 100.00% | $ | 207,775,000 | 100.00 | % | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | Assumes the full surrender for no consideration of 1,000,000 founder shares and no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. |
Our initial shareholders and members of our management team may from time to time become aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue as an initial business combination, but 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 a business combination transaction with us.
As described in “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. 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. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she may be required to honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us.
We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our initial shareholders and members of our management team may participate in the formation of, invest in (on behalf of themselves, their affiliates or its and their clients), or become an officer or director of, any other blank check company prior to completion of our initial business combination. As a result, our initial shareholders and members of our management team 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.
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Initial Business Combination
General
The Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into our initial business combination. We refer to this as the 80% of fair market value test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, 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. Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion that the price we are paying is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination, although there is no assurance that will be the case.
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 issued and outstanding 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 issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business 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”). 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-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial 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 issued and outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity securities of a target business or issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. 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 valued for purposes of the 80% of fair market value test. If our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on Nasdaq for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of fair market value test.
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 Have Not Identified a Target Business
To date, we have not selected any specific business combination target. To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. Our Sponsor and its principals may from time to time become aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue, for a business combination, but from the date of our incorporation through the date of this prospectus, there have been no substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, between any of our officers, directors, promoters and other affiliates on our behalf and any of their contacts or relationships regarding a potential initial business combination with our Company. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate for us. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to locate a target business or that we will be able to engage in a business combination with a target business on favorable terms or at all.
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Subject to our officers’ and directors’ pre-existing fiduciary duties and the limitation that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on the interest earned, if any) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Except for the general criteria and guidelines set forth above under the caption “Business Strategy,” we have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of financially unstable and early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
Sources of Target Businesses
We believe our team’s significant operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with a substantial number of potential business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our team have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships around the world.
We believe this network provides our team with a robust and consistent flow of acquisition opportunities which were proprietary or where a limited group of investors were invited to participate in the sale process. We believe that the network of contacts and relationships of our team will provide us with important sources of acquisition opportunities. In addition, we anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers, or non-managing Sponsor investors or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, directors or officers, or non-managing Sponsor investors. Accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public shareholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination In the event we seek to complete an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such an initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
In the event our Sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination.
Similarly, if we agree to pay our Sponsor or a member of our management team a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination. While no such fees are currently contemplated, we may choose to pay such fees in the future.
As more fully discussed in “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our directors and officers currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that any of the foregoing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination.
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Our executive offices are located at 2400 E. Commercial Boulevard, Suite 900, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 and our telephone number is (954) 315-9381.
Mail addressed to the Company and received at its registered office in the Cayman Islands will be forwarded unopened to the forwarding address supplied by the Company to be dealt with. None of the Company or its directors, officers, advisors or service providers (including the organization which provides registered office services in the Cayman Islands) will bear any responsibility for any delay howsoever caused with regards to mail reaching the forwarding address.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination
Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into our initial business combination. We refer to this as the 80% of fair market value test. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation or value of comparable businesses. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, 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. Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion that the price we are paying is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination, although there is no assurance that will be the case. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of fair market value test. There is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which may 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.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Fair Market Value of Target Business
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 taxes payable on the interest earned, if any) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance.
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We currently anticipate structuring a business combination involving 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or involving less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our 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 valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fundraising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer target businesses an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their capital stock, shares or other equity securities in the target business for our shares or for a combination of our shares and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, road show and public reporting efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriter’s ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’ interests. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. 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 $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 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 equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (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 or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
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Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of $200,000,000 assuming no redemptions (or $230,000,000 assuming no redemptions and after payment of estimated offering expenses of $776,676), 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.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our shares, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or the redemptions of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We have not selected any specific business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account.
In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law or we decide to do so for business or other reasons, we would seek shareholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Lack of business diversification
For an indefinite period of time after consummation 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 consummating 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. |
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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 a target business’ management may not prove to be correct. Moreover, members of our management team may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business. The future role of members of our management team, if any, in a post-transaction company cannot presently be stated with any certainty. Consequently, members of our management team may not become a part of the post-transaction company’s management team or serve it in advisory positions, and the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Further, it is also not certain whether one or more of our directors will remain associated with the post-transaction company in some capacity following our initial business combination. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the post-transaction company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. However, we may not have the ability to recruit additional managers, or to locate additional managers who will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination
In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to convert their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our shareholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. We will seek shareholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, provided, that we may also decide to seek shareholder approval for business or other reasons.
Under the Nasdaq 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) ordinary shares that will either (a) be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of 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 the 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. |
If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and legal reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
| ● | the timing of the proposed transaction, including in the event we determine shareholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek shareholder approval or doing so would place us at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on us; |
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| ● | the expected cost of holding a shareholder vote; |
| ● | the risk that our shareholders would fail to approve the initial business combination; |
| ● | other time and budget constraints; and |
| ● | potential additional legal complexities of an initial business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to shareholders. |
Unlike other blank check companies which require shareholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related conversions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combination even when a vote is not required by law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC, which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if upon such consummation and, if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the ordinary shares voted at a shareholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination.
Our initial shareholders will agree to vote any Class B ordinary shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, including the founder shares and private shares. In addition, the Sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree (1) not to convert any Class A ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (2) not sell any Class A ordinary shares in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, we would need only approximately 6,279,166 public shares, or approximately 31.39% of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming (i) the over-allotment option is not exercised and all shares were present and entitled to vote at the meeting, (ii) 1,000,000 founder shares have been surrendered for no consideration.
None of our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or Class A ordinary shares in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions.
However, if we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination, our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, and their affiliates will not make purchases of Class A ordinary shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock. Further, any shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction.
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation or duty to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, to the extent it applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume of purchases.
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Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares in such transactions.
The purpose of any such transactions 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. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders (in the case of Class A ordinary shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already been voted at the general meeting related to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase shares from based on the negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. Additionally, in the event our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may purchase public shares from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
| ● | if our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates were to purchase public shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
| ● | our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
| ● | we would disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K, before our general meeting of shareholders to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: |
| ● | the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
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| ● | the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; |
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; |
| ● | the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates; and |
| ● | the number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
Redemption Rights
At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders (but not our initial shareholders or the underwriter) may seek to redeem their Class A ordinary shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, by converting such shares into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid (which taxes may be paid only from the interest earned on the funds in the trust account, net of taxes). Alternatively, we may provide our public shareholders (but not our initial shareholders or the underwriter) with the opportunity to sell their Class A ordinary shares to us through a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid.
We may also require public shareholders seeking redemption, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either (i) tender their certificates to our transfer agent or (ii) deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, in each case prior to a date set forth in the proxy materials sent in connection with the proposal to approve the business combination.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced delivery process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the holder. This fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to do so prior to the time that we know that the proposed business combination will be consummated. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. Thus, in the event we require shareholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to deliver their shares prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to shareholders.
Any proxy solicitation materials we furnish to shareholders in connection with a vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring shareholders to satisfy such certification and delivery requirements. Accordingly, a shareholder would have from the time the shareholder received our proxy statement up until the time designated in the proxy statement to deliver his, her or its shares if he, she or it wishes to seek to exercise his, her or its redemption rights. This time period varies depending on the specific facts of each transaction. However, as the delivery process can be accomplished by the shareholder, whether or not he, she or it is a record holder or his, her or its shares are held in “street name,” in a matter of hours by simply contacting the transfer agent or his, her or its broker and requesting delivery of his her or its shares through the DWAC System, we believe this time period is sufficient for an average investor. However, we cannot assure you of this fact. Please see the Risk Factor titled “We will require public shareholders who wish to redeem their public shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights” for further information on the risks of failing to comply with these requirements.
The foregoing is different from the procedures historically used by some blank check companies. Traditionally, in order to perfect redemption rights in connection with a blank check company’s business combination, the Company would distribute proxy materials for the shareholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his, her or its redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the Company would contact such shareholder to arrange for him, her or it to deliver his, her or its certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder then had an “option window” after the consummation of the business combination during which he, she or it could monitor the price of the Company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the conversion price, he could sell his, her or its shares in the open market before actually delivering his, her or its shares to the Company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the shareholder meeting, would become a “continuing” right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the holder delivered his, her or its certificate or shares. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a holder’s election to convert his, her or its shares is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.
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Any request to redeem such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered his, her or its certificate in connection with an election of such shares’ redemption and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the proposed business combination not to elect to exercise such rights, he, she or it may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate or shares (physically or electronically).
If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates or shares delivered by public holders. Furthermore, if the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights will not be entitled to convert their shares into a full pro rata portion of the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), as applicable. We will thereafter promptly return any shares delivered by public shareholders. In such case, public shareholders may only share in the assets of the trust account upon our liquidation. This may result in public shareholders receiving less than they would have received if the business combination was completed and they had exercised redemption rights in connection therewith due to potential claims of creditors.
Liquidation if No Business Combination
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete an initial business combination (as such deadline may be extended by shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination). If we have not completed an initial business combination by such date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, (less any permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under the Cayman Islands laws to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Our Sponsor, executive officers and directors have agreed (pursuant to a written letter agreement with us filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their public shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, net of franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our Sponsor, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person.
We are required to use our reasonable best efforts to have all third parties (including any vendors or other entities we engage after this offering) and any prospective target businesses enter into agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result, the claims that could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the likelihood that any claim would result in any liability extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the trust account (less any permitted withdrawals) to our public shareholders. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you of this fact as there is no guarantee that vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses will execute such agreements. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. 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. Our underwriter and auditor are the only third parties we are currently aware of that may not execute a waiver. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account.
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We anticipate notifying the trustee of the trust account to begin liquidating such assets promptly after such date and anticipate it will take no more than ten (10) business days to effectuate such distribution. Our initial shareholders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares and private shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless. We will pay the costs of any subsequent liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account and the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that we are permitted to withdraw to pay such expenses.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share redemption price would be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to claims of our creditors that are in preference to the claims of public shareholders.
Our public shareholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of our failure to complete a business combination within the required time period or if the shareholders seek to have us redeem or purchase their respective shares upon a business combination which is actually completed by us or upon certain amendments to our charter documents as described elsewhere herein. In no other circumstances shall a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Our initial shareholders will not participate in any redemption distribution from our trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares. Additionally, any loans made by our officers, directors, Sponsors or their affiliates for working capital needs will be forgiven and not repaid if we are unable to complete an initial business combination.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot make any assurance of the amount we will be able to return to our public shareholders.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public shareholders promptly after 24 months from the closing of this offering, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public shareholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our Board of Directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties 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.
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of a majority of our shareholders. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to convert their public shares in connection with any such vote. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our Sponsor, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person. Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares held by them, and the Sponsor has agreed to waive its redemption rights with respect to any public shares it may hold, in each case in connection with any vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Specifically, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides, among other things, that:
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| ● | we shall either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to redeem their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our shareholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein; |
| ● | we will consummate our initial business combination only, if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the ordinary shares voted at a shareholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination; |
| ● | if our initial business combination is not consummated within 24 months from the closing of this offering then we will redeem all of the outstanding public shares and thereafter liquidate and dissolve the Company; |
| ● | upon the consummation of this offering, $200,000,000, or approximately $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, shall be placed into the trust account; and |
| ● | prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional stock that participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or that votes as a class with the public shares sold in this offering on any matter. |
These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of holders of at least two-thirds (or such higher threshold as specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) of our ordinary shares who attend and vote in a general meeting. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we may consummate our initial business combination only if approved by a majority of the ordinary shares voted by our shareholders at a duly held shareholders meeting.
Additionally, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and the removal of our directors and that holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by the holders of a majority of at least 90% of our ordinary shares attending and voting in person or by proxy in a general meeting. 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 our founder shares and private shares and holders of our public shares will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Although we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.
The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:
| ● | our obligation to seek shareholder approval of a business combination or engage in a tender offer may delay the completion of a transaction; |
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| ● | our obligation to convert or repurchase Class A ordinary shares held by our public shareholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination; and |
| ● | our outstanding warrants and unit purchase options, and the potential future dilution they represent. |
Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.
If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.
Facilities
We currently maintain our executive offices at 2400 E. Commercial Boulevard, Suite 900, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. The cost for this space is included in the $30,000 per month fee that we will pay our Sponsor for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have three officers and do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Members of our team 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 that any such person will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We have registered 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 report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with or reconciled to GAAP or IFRS. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial statements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We may be required to have our internal control procedures audited for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. A target company 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 acquisition.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team.
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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.
| Redemptions in Connection with our Initial Business Combination |
Other Permitted Purchases of Public Shares by our Affiliates |
Redemptions if we fail to Complete an Initial Business Combination | ||||
| 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 the initial business combination (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per share), including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed business combination. | If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following completion of our initial business combination. If our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process. If they engage in such transactions they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. | If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 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 thereon (which interest shall be net of any permitted withdrawals) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. | |||
| 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). | 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. |
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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 underwriter will not exercise its over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
| Terms of Our Offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Escrow of offering proceeds | $200,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units will be deposited into a trust account located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. | Approximately $175,700,991 of the offering proceeds, representing the gross proceeds of this offering, would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account | ||
| Investment of net proceeds | $200,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, held in trust will be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. | 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. | ||
| Receipt of interest on escrowed funds | Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to shareholders will be reduced by any taxes payable and, in the event we are unable to complete our initial Business Combination within the time period prescribed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, will be further reduced by any permitted withdrawals. | 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 consummation of a business combination. | ||
| Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business | Our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses or assets having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (less any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial 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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| Terms of Our Offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Trading of securities issued | The public units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The public shares and public warrants may begin trading separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless our underwriter informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering, such Form 8-K to be amended or supplemented with updated financial information in the event the over-allotment option is exercised or if our underwriter permits separate trading prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus. |
No trading of the public units or the underlying public shares, or public 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. | ||
| Exercise of the warrants | The warrants cannot be exercised until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and, accordingly, will be exercised only after the trust account has been terminated and distributed. | 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. | ||
| Election to remain an investor | We will either (1) give our shareholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their Class A ordinary shares to us in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes payable on interest earned. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each shareholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Under the Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we must provide notice of any meeting of shareholders at least 10 days in advance. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine |
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 | ||
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| Terms of Our Offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| whether to exercise their rights to convert their shares into cash or to remain an investor in our Company. Alternatively, if we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. Under the tender offer rules, a tender offer must remain open for 20 business days. | 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. | |||
| Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to sell their shares to us in such a tender offer or to remain an investor in our Company. | ||||
| Business combination deadline | Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (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), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less any permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under the Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. | If an acquisition has not been consummated within 24 months after the effective date of the Company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors. |
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| Terms of Our Offering | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering | |||
| Release of funds | Except for interest earned on the funds in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier; (1) of the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period; and, if our charter documents are amended to require it and (3) 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 (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 required time period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity. | 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 our initial business combination within the allotted time. | ||
| 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 |
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 | |||
| 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. | ||||
| Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a shareholder vote | If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that a public shareholder (including our affiliates), 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. |
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Conflicts of Interest
Our team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our Sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities 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. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to the Company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity. For more information, see the section entitled “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest.”
Our directors and officers presently have, 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. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, or in the case of a non-compete restriction, may not present such opportunity to us at all, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Certain of our directors and officers 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 determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.”
We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Indemnity
Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our Company and, therefore, our Sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such obligations.
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Directors, Director Nominees, Officers and Advisors
| Name | Age | Title | ||
| Charles T. Cassel III | 61 | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Vikas Mittal | 45 | Chairman and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Jonathan Binder | 62 | Director | ||
| Christopher Bradley | 48 | Director nominee | ||
| Brian Rudick | 44 | Director nominee | ||
| Mathew August | 37 | Director nominee | ||
| Danel Calvillo Armendariz | 27 | Director nominee | ||
| Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew | 56 | Director nominee |
| * | To be appointed in connection with the closing of the offering. |
Our directors, director nominees and officers are as follows:
Charles T. Cassel III has been Chief Executive Officer since March 28, 2025. Mr. Cassel is the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIM. Mr. Cassel is responsible for the risk management for CIM’s investment strategies, the day-to-day operations of CIM and all non-equity portfolio management initiatives and also serves as the Chief Compliance Officer of CIM. Before co-founding Consilium in 2004, Mr. Cassel held the position as Head of Emerging Markets Portfolio Management at Standard Asset Management from 1999 to 2004. Prior to that, from 1997 to 1999, Mr. Cassel was at Americas Trust Bank as an Emerging Market debt portfolio manager and was earlier the Chief Financial Officer for the US subsidiary of Banco Cafetero de Colombia from 1992 to 1997, where, among other responsibilities, he ran the bank’s international treasury book. Earlier from 1985 to 1991, he was a Portfolio Manager of mortgage-backed securities at Bank Atlantic, a federally chartered savings bank. From 2014 to 2017, Mr. Cassel served as a director of Panache Beverages, Inc. Since January 2022, Mr. Cassel has served as CEO, CFO and Director of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors and CEO of Edgewater Spirits LLC since January 2023. Mr. Cassel holds a B.A. in Economics from Washington & Lee University (1985) and a Masters in Accounting from Nova Southeastern University (1996). Additionally, he is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute.
Vikas Mittal has been our director since July 26, 2024, our Chief Financial Officer since March 28, 2025 and our Chairman since April 29, 2025. Mr. Mittal has served as the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora since January 2022. Over Mr. Mittal’s 20 years on the buy-side as a principal investor, he has deployed capital across event-driven investment strategies. Mr. Mittal has also served as Chief Financial Officer of Berto Acquisition Corp. since June 2025. Prior to Meteora, Mr. Mittal was an investment professional and member GCM, having joined GCM in 2005. Before transitioning to the buy-side, Mr. Mittal was part of the founding team that launched Raymond James’ TMT investment banking practice in Palo Alto, California, in 2002 focusing on mid-market mergers and acquisitions and private placements. Mr. Mittal earned a B.S. in Finance from University of Florida in 2002, summa cum laude, and earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in 2012. Mr. Mittal is also a CFA holder.
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Jonathan M. Binder, Director, is the co-Founder of CIM and has served Chief Investment Officer for CIM’s Frontier Equity since 2004 and Portfolio Manager for CIM’s Extended Opportunities Fund Strategies since 2018. Prior to co-founding Consilium, Mr. Binder spent four years at Standard Asset Management, a division of the Standard Bank Group of South Africa, as Chief Investment Officer, from 1999 to 2004. Mr. Binder had previously spent two years at Americas Trust Bank where he was an Emerging Market equity hedge fund portfolio manager. Prior to this, Mr. Binder was Managing Director of Latin American Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell from 1993 to 1997 and before that, launched James Capel’s equity sales trading and research business in Latin America in 1986. Since January 2022, Mr. Binder has served as Chairman and Director of CSLM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CSLM), a special purpose acquisition company focused on new economy sectors. He graduated from the University of Bristol, England, with a B.Sc. (Econ) joint honors degree in Economics and Politics (1983). Mr. Binder is an alumnus of Eton College.
Christopher Bradley is a director nominee. Mr. Bradley is a Managing Director at Mistral Equity Partners, which he joined in 2008. Mr. Bradley brings over 20 years of experience in identifying acquisition candidates, board service, due diligence experience including accounting and financial modeling acumen, and a background in deal structuring. He currently serves as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. 4 since 2024 and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III until it completed its business combination in May 2022 with Biote, Corp., and has since been retained by Biote as an advisor. Mr. Bradley served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II from 2019 until its merger with ARKO (NASDAQ:ARKO) in December 2020. He served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. I from 2017 until its business combination with OneSpaWorld (NASDAQ:OSW) in 2019. Since 2016, Mr. Bradley has served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of The Beacon Consumer Incubator Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in consumer technology companies. Mr. Bradley also previously served on the board of directors of Creminelli Fine Meats, LLC, a privately held premium-priced charcuterie wholesaler from 2016 to January 2020, The Lovesac Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOVE) from 2010 to 2019, Roth CH Acquisition Corp. since 2023, and Carnegie Park Capital since 2024. Mr. Bradley also served as Chief Financial Officer of Tastemaker Acquisition Corp. from 2021 to 2023 and AF Acquisition Corp. from 2021 to 2022. Mr. Bradley has also guided Mistral portfolio companies in an operational role and, through Mistral, served on the board of Jamba, Inc. (NASDAQ: JMBA) from 2009 to 2013. Prior to Mistral, Mr. Bradley served as an investment banker at Banc of America Securities from 2005 to 2006, a Manager in Burger King’s strategy group in 2004, and a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers management consulting practice from 1999 to 2004. He is also currently serving on the advisory board of Carnegie Park Capital, a private investment fund. Mr. Bradley earned an A.B. from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.
Mathew August is a director nominee. Mr. August is the Managing Director and Executive Chairman of Atlas Capital Partners, a New York–based single family office investment firm and merchant bank, and its related entity, ACP Animus Capital Partners, positions he has held since 2016. He has over 15 years of experience in long-term investing, advising, and building companies across the venture capital, private equity, and public markets. His investment and advisory focus spans a broad range of industries, including infrastructure, technology, digital assets, defense, consumer products, and strategic critical resources. Prior to founding Atlas, Mr. August was the Founder and Vice Chairman of a Canadian-based merchant bank, where he advised on and led transactions totaling in the billions across multiple sectors. Earlier in his career, he served as an FX desk trader at Olympia Trust Company (TSX: OLY). Mr. August currently incubates, invests in, and advises a number of public and private companies, and serves on both advisory boards and formal boards of directors. His current and past affiliations include Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc.; GSR III Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ); Colonial Energy Capital Inc.; Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML); Edge Total IQ (TSX); Volt Lithium Ltd. (TSX); Onefluent Media Inc.; Funny Water Beverages LLC; NexMetals Mining Corp. (TSX); BIOSG; and Streamex Commodities Exchange Corp. (NASDAQ: BSGM), among others.
Brian Rudick is a director nominee. Brian Rudick is a seasoned finance and digital assets executive with a broad track record spanning traditional banking, crypto markets, and strategic advisory roles. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Upexi Inc. (Nasdaq: UPXI), where he oversees the company’s cryptocurrency strategy, investor relations, marketing, and go-to-market planning. Immediately prior, Mr. Rudick was Head of Research at GSR, the world’s largest digital-asset market-maker, where he generated key thought leadership and guided GSR’s investment into Upexi’s $100 million private placement. Before transitioning to digital assets, he spent over a decade on Wall Street, primarily managing long short portfolios of bank stocks at Citadel, Balyasny, and Millennium. Mr. Rudick began his career at the Federal Reserve, conducting research central to the monetary-policy process. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Duke University, an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is a CFA Charterholder. Mr. Rudick’s experience spans traditional asset management, digital markets, and macroeconomic research.
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Danel Calvillo Armendariz is a director nominee. Danel Calvillo Armendariz is an experienced financial executive with deep expertise in banking, financial regulation, and digital assets. Since January 2022, he has served as Managing Partner of Inertia Advisory LLC, where he advises financial institutions, family offices, and regulated funds on investment structuring, digital asset licensing, and regulatory compliance. He has led engagements with the Roatán Financial Services Authority and secured VASP licenses from the Bank of Spain for institutional clients, including oversight of stablecoin-based remittance operations. Mr. Calvillo Armendariz is also the legal representative of Motus LLC and Motus Wyoming LLC, subsidiaries of Inertia Advisory, where he oversees financial services licenses, digital asset operations, and stablecoin distribution, including direct minting and redemption capabilities with Tether. He serves as Director of Inertia Funds Ltd., where he led the launch of a MiFID II-regulated crypto index fund listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Previously, Mr. Calvillo Armendariz worked in the Blockchain and Digital Assets division of BBVA, contributing to the bank’s digital asset offerings in Switzerland and global strategy development. He holds board roles at Espresso Americano España and Goldsmith Investments SL. Mr. Calvillo Armendariz earned his Master’s in Banking and Financial Regulation from Universidad de Navarra, where his thesis focused on the role of CBDCs in commercial banking. His experience spans global finance, digital infrastructure, and regulatory innovation.
Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew is a director nominee. Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew is the Founder and President of SoKat Consulting LLC, a premier artificial intelligence solutions firm delivering cutting-edge machine learning and data science applications to U.S. federal agencies and top-tier financial institutions. He also serves as an Associate Professor of Finance at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where he teaches AI Essentials for Business, Cryptos and Blockchain, and Entrepreneurial Finance. A recognized thought leader at the intersection of finance and technology, Dr. Liew has received multiple Dean’s Awards for Faculty Excellence. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Portfolio Management, Journal of Alternative Investments, Journal of Financial Data Science, and the Journal of the British Blockchain Association. Before founding SoKat, Dr. Liew was Vice President at Carlyle Asset Management Group, Senior Researcher at Campbell & Company—a multi-billion dollar quantitative hedge fund—and began his career at Morgan Stanley as a Quantitative Strategist, building models for trading and risk management. Dr. Liew earned a Ph.D. in Finance from Columbia University and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago. His work bridges academia, FinTech innovation, and real-world impact in the rapidly evolving AI and financial technology landscape.
Number, Terms of Office and Election of Executive Officers and Directors
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect that our board of directors will consist of seven members. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our founder shares will have the right to appoint all of our directors and remove members of the board of directors for any reason, and holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the appointment of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by the holders of a majority of at least 90% of our ordinary shares attending and voting in person or by proxy in a general meeting. Each of our directors will hold office for a two-year term. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the shareholders, any vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board of directors or by a majority of the holders of our ordinary shares (or, prior to our initial business combination, holders of our founder shares). Our executive officers are elected 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 persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our executive officers may consist of a Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards 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 other than an officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect to have five “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules prior to completion of this offering. Our board has determined that each of Christopher Bradley, Mathew August, Brian Rudick, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew is an independent director under applicable SEC rules and the Nasdaq listing standards.
Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
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Executive Officer and Director Compensation
Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay our Sponsor, a monthly fee of $30,000 per month for office space and general and administrative services until the consummation of an initial business combination. The officers and directors shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred and advisory fees shall be paid to the directors and advisors in connection with certain activities on the Company’s behalf.
Except as set forth above and in this paragraph, no compensation will be paid to our Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our Board of Directors may also approve the payment of advisory fees to directors in connection with such activities, including board committee service, and extraordinary administrative and analytical services. Our independent directors will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, executive officers, directors or our or their affiliates.
After the completion of 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 shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommenced, to the Board of Directors for determination, either by a committee constituted solely of 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 the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our 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 two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Each of our audit committee and our compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our Board of Directors 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
We will establish and maintain an audit committee, which will be composed entirely of independent directors as and when required by the rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A of the Exchange Act. The members of our audit committee will be Christopher Bradley, Dr. Jim Liew and Danel Calvillo Armendariz. Christopher Bradley will serve as chair of the audit committee.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Christopher Bradley 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 purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:
| ● | assisting the Board of Directors in the oversight of (1) the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the audits of the financial statements of the Company, (2) the preparation and integrity of the financial statements of the Company, (3) the compliance by the Company with financial statement and regulatory requirements, (4) the performance of the Company’s internal finance and accounting personnel and its independent registered public accounting firms, and (5) the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms; |
| ● | reviewing with each of the internal and independent registered public accounting firms the overall scope and plans for audits, including authority and organizational reporting lines and adequacy of staffing and compensation; |
| ● | reviewing and discussing with management and internal auditors the Company’s system of internal control and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm any significant matters regarding internal controls over financial reporting that have come to its attention during the conduct of its audit; |
| ● | reviewing and discussing with management, internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s financial and critical accounting practices, and policies relating to risk assessment and management; |
| ● | receiving and reviewing reports of the independent registered public accounting firm and discussing 1) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used in the firm’s audit of the Company’s financial statements, 2) all alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent registered public accounting firm, and 3) other material written communications between the independent registered public accounting firm and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences; |
| ● | reviewing and discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the annual and quarterly financial statements and section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company prior to the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; |
| ● | reviewing, or establishing, standards for the type of information and the type of presentation of such information to be included in, earnings press releases and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies; |
| ● | discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm any changes in the Company’s critical accounting principles and the effects of alternative GAAP methods, off-balance sheet structures and regulatory and accounting initiatives; |
| ● | reviewing material pending legal proceedings involving the Company and other contingent liabilities; |
| ● | meeting periodically with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent registered public accounting firm in separate executive sessions to discuss results of examinations; |
| ● | reviewing and approving all transactions between the Company and related parties or affiliates of the officers of the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K prior to the Company entering into such transactions; |
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| ● | establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submissions by employees or contractors of concerns regarding questionable accounting or accounting matters; |
| ● | reviewing periodically with the Company’s management, independent registered public accounting firm and outside legal counsel (i) legal and regulatory matters which may have a material effect on the financial statements, and (ii) corporate compliance policies or codes of conduct, 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; and |
| ● | establishing policies for the hiring of employees and former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm. |
Compensation Committee
Upon the commencement of the trading of our units on Nasdaq, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. The members of our compensation committee will be Christopher Bradley, Mathew August and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew. Christopher Bradley will serve as chair of the compensation committee. We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:
| ● | reviewing the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and executive management; |
| ● | assisting the Board in developing and evaluating potential candidates for executive positions (including Chief Executive Officer); |
| ● | reviewing and approving goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officer compensation, evaluating the Chief Executive Officer’s and other executive officers’ performance in light of these corporate goals and objectives, and setting the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officer compensation levels consistent with its evaluation and the Company philosophy; |
| ● | approving the salaries, bonus and other compensation for all executive officers; |
| ● | reviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors for approval compensation packages for new corporate officers and termination packages for corporate officers as requested by management; |
| ● | reviewing and discussing with the Board of Directors and senior officers plans for officer development and corporate succession plans for the Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers; |
| ● | reviewing and making recommendations concerning executive compensation policies and plans; |
| ● | reviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors the adoption of or changes to the compensation of the Company’s directors; |
| ● | reviewing and approving the awards made under any executive officer bonus plan, and providing an appropriate report to the Board of Directors; |
| ● | reviewing and making recommendations concerning long-term incentive compensation plans, including the use of stock options and other equity-based plans, and, except as otherwise delegated by the Board of Directors, acting as the “Plan Administrator” for equity-based and employee benefit plans; |
| ● | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s executive officers and employees; |
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| ● | reviewing periodic reports from management on matters relating to the Company’s personnel appointments and practices; |
| ● | assisting management in complying with the Company’s proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
| ● | issuing an annual Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation for the Company’s annual proxy statement in compliance with applicable SEC rules and regulations; |
| ● | annually evaluating the committee’s performance and the committee’s charter and recommending to the Board of Directors any proposed changes to the charter or the committee; and |
| ● | undertaking all further actions and discharging all further responsibilities imposed upon the Committee from time to time by the Board of Directors, the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the SEC. |
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.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or Nasdaq rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)of the Nasdaq rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by our board of directors. Our board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. The directors who will participate in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees are Christopher Bradley, Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew and Danel Calvillo Armendariz. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for appointment at the next annual general meeting (or, if applicable, an extraordinary general meeting). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for appointment to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
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, our 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.
Clawback Policy
We will adopt a compensation recovery policy that is compliant with Nasdaq listing rules as required by the Dodd-Frank Act.
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Code of Conduct and Ethics
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will adopt a code of conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. We will file a copy of our form of Code of Business Conduct and our board committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement. You will be able to review these documents 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 will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Business Conduct in a Current Report on Form 8-K. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Conflicts of Interest
Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe fiduciary duties to the Company including the following:
| ● | 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; |
| ● | duty to exercise authority for the purpose for which it is conferred; |
| ● | duty to not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; |
| ● | duty to exercise powers fairly as between different classes of shareholders; |
| ● | duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the Company and their personal interests; and |
| ● | duty to exercise independent judgment. |
In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care and skill, 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 which that director has.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position at the expense of the Company. 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 amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.
Our team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our Sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our Sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law and any other applicable fiduciary duties.
Certain members of our team have fiduciary and contractual duties to Consilium and to certain companies in which Consilium has invested. These entities may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. None of the members of our team who are also employed by our Sponsor or its affiliates have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Our Sponsor and members of our team are also not prohibited from Sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their initial business combinations, prior to us completing our initial business combination, and certain of them expect to do so in the future. Any such involvement may result in conflicts of interests as described above.
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Our directors and officers presently have, 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. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, or in the case of a non-compete restriction, may not present such opportunity to us at all. 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. In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to the Company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity. Our directors and officers are also not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Team and Their Respective Affiliates and to the Post-Business Combination Company — Certain of our directors and officers 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 determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.”
In addition, our Sponsor, its members, our officers or our directors or their respective affiliates may be investors, or have other direct or indirect interests, in a business with which we may enter into a business combination agreement and/or in certain funds or other persons that may purchase shares in this offering or that may otherwise purchase our Class A ordinary shares in the public market.
We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination.
Investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
| ● | Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. |
| ● | Our initial shareholders purchased founder shares for a nominal purchase price prior to the date of this prospectus and will purchase private units in a transaction that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private placement shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Additionally, our sponsor, officers and directors 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 prescribed time frame, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, the private units will expire worthless. Furthermore, our sponsor, 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: (A) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; or (B) 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 ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. The private units (including the Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the private placement units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying the private warrants) will not be transferable until 30 days following the completion of our initial business combination. Because each of our officers and director nominees will own ordinary shares or warrants directly or indirectly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. |
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| ● | The personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and pursuing an initial business combination or completing our initial business combination. The different timelines of competing business combinations could cause our directors and executive officers to prioritize a different business combination over finding a suitable acquisition target for our business combination. For example, if two targets are being evaluated by our management team, and one is more stable and has a better risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, but may take a longer time to diligence and go through the business combination process, while the other has a less favorable risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, but would be easier, quicker and more certain to guide through the business combination process, our management team may decide to choose what they believe to be the quicker and more certain path despite its less favorable risk or stability profile for our public shareholders, as our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated a business combination. Additionally, if members of our management team form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination, the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to the business combinations of such other special purpose acquisition companies or ventures, and the level of attention paid to by members of our management team to them versus the level of attention paid to us may conflict in a way that is unfavorable to us. Consequently, our directors’ and executive officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest, which could negatively impact the timing for a business combination. |
| ● | Our sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination, including the fact that they may lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Upon the closing of this offering, our sponsor will have invested in us an aggregate of $5,025,000, comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the founder shares (or approximately $0.003 per share) and the $5,000,000 purchase price for the private units (or $10.00 per unit), assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. Accordingly, our management team may be more willing to pursue a business combination with a riskier or less-established target business than would be the case if our sponsor had paid the same per share price for the founder shares as our public shareholders paid for their public shares and if our sponsor were required to pay cash to exercise the private units, as our sponsor and members of our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. These interests of our executive officers and directors may affect the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to a business combination in a way that conflicts with the interests of our public shareholders. |
| ● | Certain members of our management team may receive compensation upon consummation of our initial business combination, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such compensation will not be received unless we consummate such business combination. |
| ● | Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. |
| ● | In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination. |
| ● | Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team or one of their affiliates a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination, which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from working capital. |
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| ● | We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or the non-managing sponsor investors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors or the non-managing sponsor investors; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public shareholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. |
In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
For the foregoing reasons, our Board of Directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate to effect a business combination with the Company.
In general, executive officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
| ● | the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity; |
| ● | the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and |
| ● | it would not be fair to the corporation and its shareholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation. |
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our Board of Directors evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above-mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of our execution of a definitive agreement for a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he or she ceases to be an officer or director, to present to our Company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations he or she might have in the event their respective business combinations are not consummated. Accordingly, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our executive officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have.
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Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations.
| Individual | Entity | Entity’s Business | Affiliation | |||
| Charles T. Cassel III | Consilium Investment Management, LLC(1)
CSLM Acquisition Corp. |
Investment management company
Special Purpose Acquisition Company |
Co-Founder
Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |||
| Jonathan M. Binder | Consilium Investment Management, LLC(1)
CSLM Acquisition Corp. |
Investment management company
Special Purpose Acquisition Company |
Co-Founder
Director and Chairman | |||
| Vikas Mittal | Samara CSLM LLC
Meteora Capital
Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I |
[TBA]
Investment management company
Special Purpose Acquisition Company |
Managing Member
Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |||
| Christopher Bradley | Mistral Equity Partners
Haymaker Acquisition Corp 4
Roth CH Acquisition Co. |
Investment firm
Special Purpose Acquisition Company
Former Special Purpose Acquisition Company and current blank check company |
Managing Director
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Director | |||
| Brian Rudick | Upexi Inc. | Treasury operations | Chief Strategy Officer | |||
| Danel Calvillo Armendariz | Inertia Advisory LLC (Motus LLC and Motus Wyoming LLC)
Inertia Funds Ltd.
Goldsmith Capital |
Advisory
Investments |
Managing Partner
Director
Principal | |||
Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew |
SoKat Consulting LLC |
AI solutions firm |
Founder and President | |||
| Mathew August | Atlas Capital Partners | Investment firm | Managing Director and Executive Chairman | |||
| ACP Animus Capital Partners | Investment firm | Managing Director and Executive Chairman |
| (1) | Includes certain other affiliates and portfolio companies |
If we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote any shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to their founder shares, insider shares or private shares. If they purchase Class A ordinary shares as part of this offering or in the open market, however, they would be entitled to participate in any liquidation distribution in respect of such shares but have agreed not to convert or sell such shares to us in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our Sponsor, executive officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors or the members of our Board of Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
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The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our 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 private units, 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 the outstanding ordinary shares; |
| ● | each of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns ordinary shares; and |
| ● | all our executive officers and directors as a group. |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of any shares issuable upon exercise of warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
On January 23, 2025, our Sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in exchange for 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares. On March 28, 2025, through a share capitalization, the Company issued an additional 1,916,667 Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate of 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares or “founder shares” resulting in a price per share of approximately $0.003 per share. Up to 1,000,000 of the founder shares may be surrendered by the Sponsor for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
The post-offering numbers and percentages presented in the following table assume that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that 1,000,000 founder shares have been surrendered to us for no consideration and that there are 27,441,667 ordinary shares issued and outstanding after this offering including: 20,000,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying units issued as part of this offering, 6,666,667 Class B ordinary shares held by the Sponsor (100,000 of which will be transferred by the Sponsor to the director nominees pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) and 775,000 Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the private units.
| Before Offering | After Offering | |||||||||||||||
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned(2) |
Approximate
Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Ordinary Shares(6) |
Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned(7) |
Approximate
Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Ordinary Shares(8) |
||||||||||||
| CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd (our Sponsor)(3) (4) | 6,566,667 | 98.5 | % | 7,066,667 | 25.75 | % | ||||||||||
| Charles T. Cassel III(3) | 6,566,667 | 98.5 | % | 7,066,667 | 25.75 | % | ||||||||||
| Jonathan Binder(3) | 6,566,667 | 98.5 | % | 7,066,667 | 25.75 | % | ||||||||||
| Vikas Mittal(3) | 6,566,667 | 98.5 | % | 7,066,667 | 25.75 | % | ||||||||||
| Christopher Bradley | 20,000 | (5) | 0.3 | % | 20,000 | (5) | - | |||||||||
| Brian Rudick | 20,000 | (5) | 0.3 | % | 20,000 | (5) | - | |||||||||
| Mathew August | 20,000 | (5) | 0.3 | % | 20,000 | (5) | - | |||||||||
| Danel Calvillo Armendariz | 20,000 | (5) | 0.3 | % | 20,000 | (5) | - | |||||||||
| Dr. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew | 20,000 | (5) | 0.3 | % | 20,000 | (5) | - | |||||||||
| All directors, officers and director nominees as a group (8 individuals) | 6,666,667 | (4) | 100 | % | 7,166,667 | 26.12 | % | |||||||||
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| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o CSLM Acquisition Corp II, Ltd., 2400 E. Commercial Boulevard, Suite 900, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. |
| (2) | Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as Class B ordinary shares. Such ordinary shares will convert into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.” This number assumes that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and that the Sponsor forfeits 1,000,000 founder shares and transfers 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees. |
| (3) | CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd our Sponsor, is the record holder of the Class B ordinary shares reported herein. The legal and beneficial owners of our Sponsor are: (i) Consilium Investment Capital, Inc., which is owned and controlled by Charles T Cassel III and Jonathan M. Binder and (ii) Samara CSLM, LLC which is owned and controlled by Vikas Mittal. By virtue of their shared control over the manager of our Sponsor, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Binder, and Mr. Vittal may be deemed to beneficially own shares held by our Sponsor. |
| (4) | Four (4) institutional investors (none of which are affiliated with any member of our management, our Sponsor or any other investor), which we refer to as the “non-managing Sponsor investors” throughout this prospectus, have expressed an interest to indirectly purchase, through the purchase of securities in our Sponsor, an aggregate of 100,000 private units ($1,000,000in the aggregate) at a price of $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each non-managing Sponsor investor indirectly purchasing, through securities in our Sponsor, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the Sponsor will issue its securities at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing Sponsor investors reflecting interests in an aggregate of 400,000 founder shares held by the Sponsor. The Sponsor will continue holding founder shares and private units until the completion of our initial business combination, and as such, until that time, it will control the voting by these shares and will have the sole discretion as to when to convert the founder shares and private shares into Class A ordinary Shares. |
| (5) | Represents shares transferred by the Sponsor pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. |
| (6) | Based on 6,666,667 shares issued and outstanding before the offering. |
| (7) | This number assumes that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised, and the Sponsor has acquired 500,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (with each unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share, and one-half of one redeemable warrant) in a private placement. The Class A ordinary shares derived from the private placement units and warrants are not included in this calculation. |
| (8) | This number assumes that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and following the completion of the offering, 27,441,667 ordinary shares in total remain outstanding. |
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Immediately after this offering, our initial shareholders will beneficially own 25% of the then issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding any shares underlying the private units) and will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination as a result of holding all of the founder shares. Holders of our public shares will not have the right to appoint any directors to our board of directors prior to our initial business combination. In addition, because of their 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. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a capitalization or share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding any shares underlying the private units). The Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of our founder shares may ultimately 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.
To the extent the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option, up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture. Our Sponsor will be required to surrender for no consideration only that number of founder shares necessary to maintain the representation by the founder shares of a 25% ownership interest in our outstanding ordinary shares (without giving effect to the sale of the private units) after consummation of this offering.
Assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option, our Sponsor has committed that it will purchase an aggregate of 500,000 private units (or 575,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and the underwriter has committed to purchase an aggregate of 275,000 private units (or 316,250 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. The private units are identical to the public units, except as otherwise described herein.
Our initial shareholders have agreed (A) to vote their founder shares and private shares held by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose an amendment to our charter documents with respect to our pre-business combination activities prior to the consummation of such a business combination 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 thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, (C) not to redeem any private shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination and (D) that such private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated, until all of the claims of any redeeming shareholders and creditors are fully satisfied (and then only from funds held outside the trust account). To the extent that our initial shareholders acquire any public shares after we publicly announce our intention to engage in a proposed business combination, such initial shareholders have agreed pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement that they will not vote such shares for or against such business combination.
Our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their respective founder shares that they hold until the date that is (i) in the case of the founder shares, the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (B) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their public shares for cash, securities or other property, and (ii) in the case of the private units or any securities underlying the private units, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the lock-up period of the non-managing Sponsor investors shall not be longer than the Sponsor’s lock-up period; provided that if upon consummation of an initial business combination, any securityholder holding more than three percent (3.0%) of the capital stock of the surviving company is not subject to a lock-up agreement or is subject to a lock-up agreement for a shorter period of time than non-managing Sponsor investors, the non-managing Sponsor investors’ lock-up period shall be reduced to the shortest lock-up period or terminated, as the case may be, unless such exclusion from the lock-up obligations is required in compliance with the listing rules of Nasdaq or any other national stock exchange.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, during their respective lock-up periods, the initial shareholders may transfer, assign or sell any of the aforenamed securities (1) amongst the Sponsor and its affiliates, to our executive officers or directors, or to any affiliate or family member of any of our executive officers or directors, (2) in the case of an entity, as a distribution to its partners, shareholders or members upon its liquidation, (3) in the case of an individual, (i) by bona fide 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, (ii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of such person, (iii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (4) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities, (5) through private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination at prices no greater than the price at which such securities were originally purchased, or (6) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination; provided, that, in each such case (except clause (6)), these transferees (the “permitted transferees”) shall enter into a written agreement with us agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions agreed to by the original holder in connection with the purchase of the securities being transferred.
Registration Rights
Our initial shareholders, the non-managing Sponsor investors and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the founder shares, the private units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of working capital loans, pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the date of this prospectus. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities. The holders of a majority of these securities or units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights on registration statements filed after the Company’s consummation of a business combination.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Our Sponsor has acquired 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares, or “founder shares,” for a purchase price of $25,000 or $0.003 per share, of which up to 1,000,000 founder shares remain subject to surrender to us for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. The purchase price per founder share was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the Company by the number of founder shares issued. Prior to the investment of $25,000 by our Sponsor, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible.
The number of founder shares, and the surrender mechanism underlying the founder shares, has been determined in order to ensure that the founder shares will collectively represent 25% of the outstanding shares (excluding any shares underlying the private units) upon completion of this offering and the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, if any. In connection with this offering, our Sponsor holds 7,666,667 founder shares, of which up to 1,000,000 founder shares are subject to surrender to us depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
Our Sponsor and the underwriter in this offering, have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 775,000 private units in a private placement (or 891,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at the price of $10.00 per private unit. Of the 775,000 private units, our Sponsor has agreed to purchase 500,000 private units (or 575,000 Private Units in the event that the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and the underwriter has agreed to purchase 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). These purchases of private units shall take place as a private placement simultaneously with the sale of the public units in this offering.
Except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders,” our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their respective founder shares and private units until the date that is (i) in the case of the founder shares, the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or (B) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their public shares for cash, securities or other property, and (ii) in the case of the private units or any securities underlying the private units, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any such securities.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our Sponsor, executive officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional private units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The terms of such loans by our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, or their affiliates, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
The holders of our founder shares and private shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private shares and private warrants underlying the private units, our Sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities. The holders of a majority of these securities or units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
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As more fully discussed in “Management and Advisors — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our directors and officers currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us. We do not believe, however, based on the other companies with which our directors and officers are affiliated and their respective businesses, that any of the foregoing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination.
We will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement with our Sponsor, pursuant to which we will pay a total of $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support to such affiliate. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes the maximum 24 months, our Sponsor will be paid a total of $720,000 per year ($30,000 per month) for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support.
We may, at times, pay compensation or fees, including finder’s, consulting fees and other similar fees, to our Sponsor, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) but no such fees are currently contemplated. In addition, such individuals will receive the repayment of any loans from our Sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. Our Board of Directors may also approve the payment of advisory fees for such activities, including board committee service, and extraordinary administrative and analytical services. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us. Our independent directors will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, executive officers or our or their affiliates.
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 shareholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a shareholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors or the members of our Board of Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
Administrative Services Agreement
We will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement with our Sponsor pursuant to which we will pay a total of $30,000 per month to our Sponsor for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support. Upon the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes 24 months, our Sponsor will be paid a total of $720,000 ($30,000 per month) for these services.
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Related Party Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we will adopt our Code of Ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board of directors) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our Code of Ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the Company.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our Sponsor, directors or officers unless we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that our initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion that the price we are paying is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We will also make the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
| ● | Repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our Sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses; |
| ● | payment to our Sponsor of a total of $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support (See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Administrative Services Agreement”); |
| ● | Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and |
| ● | Repayment of loans which may be made by our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. |
| ● | We may also pay finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments to our Sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination but no such fees are currently contemplated. |
The above payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.
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General
We are a blank check company incorporated on July 26, 2024 as a Cayman Islands exempted company (company number H-412434) under the name “CSLM Acquisition Corporation II, Ltd”, and re-named “CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd” by special resolution, on May 23, 2025, and our affairs are governed by our 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 upon the consummation of this offering, we will be authorized to issue 445,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 each per share, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 each per share as well as 5,000,000 preference shares of a par value of $0.0001 each per share.
Units
Public Units
Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one warrant to purchase one of our Class A ordinary shares for an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, as described in this prospectus. Only whole warrants are exercisable. The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the consummation of our initial business combination. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption.
The Class A ordinary shares and public warrants will begin to trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriter informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided that in no event may the Class A ordinary shares, rights 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 of this offering. 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.
We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating if the underwriter has allowed separate trading of the Class A ordinary shares and warrants prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus.
Private Units
The private units (including the component securities of such private units as well as any securities underlying such component securities) 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,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the Sponsor). Otherwise, the private units have terms and provisions that are identical to the public units sold in this offering. The price of the private units was determined in negotiations between our Sponsor and the underwriter for this offering, with reference to the prices paid by initial shareholders for such units in special purpose acquisition companies which have recently consummated their initial public offerings.
If we do not consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private units (and the component securities) will expire worthless.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender at the time of the business combination. The units would be identical to the private units sold in the private placement.
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Each of the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans shall be identical to the private units. Following the expiration of the lock-up described under “Principal Shareholders” with respect to the private units, units issuable upon conversion of working capital loans and extension loans and their respective component securities, such securities will be transferable, assignable or saleable, subject to an effective registration statement covering such securities or an applicable exemption from registration.
Ordinary Shares
Prior to the date of this prospectus, there were 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares outstanding, of which all were held of record by our Sponsor, so that our Sponsor will own approximately 25% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming our Sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering and not including private units or ordinary shares underlying the private units and the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriter). Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
Up to 1,000,000 of the founder shares will be surrendered to us for no consideration by our Sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. Upon the closing of this offering, 27,441,667 of our ordinary shares will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and the corresponding surrender to us for no consideration of 1,000,000 founder shares by our initial shareholders) including:
| ● | 20,000,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying units issued as part of this offering; |
| ● | 6,666,667 Class B ordinary shares held by the Sponsor; | |
| ● | 775,000 Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the private units |
If we increase or decrease the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend, share contribution back to capital, or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our Sponsor, prior to this offering at 25% of our issued and outstanding shares (excluding any shares underlying the private units) upon the consummation of this offering, as described above. Such issuance will significantly dilute the equity interest of our other shareholders.
Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Unless specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of Cayman Island laws or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our shareholders. Our shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. We will consummate our initial business combination only if a vote is held to approve a business combination, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Except as described below, holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders except as required by law. Unless otherwise specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our ordinary shares that are represented in person or by proxy and are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our shareholders. Approval of certain actions will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the Company, and pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; such actions include amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. Our board of directors will generally serve for terms of two years with all directors being elected every two years. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote and voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of our directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. Further, prior to the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on transferring the Company by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend the constitutional documents of the Company or to adopt new constitutional documents of the Company, in each case, as a result of the Company approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands) and, as a result, our initial shareholders will be able to approve any such proposal without the vote of any other shareholder. The provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the appointment and the removal of our directors prior to our initial business combination and our continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands prior to our initial business combination may only be amended by a special resolution passed by holders representing at least two-thirds of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares.
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Our Board of Directors is elected every two years. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares eligible to vote for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
In accordance with the 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. Our fiscal year end will be on December 31.
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 which is payable in cash and equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.00 per public share. Our initial shareholders will enter into agreements with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and private shares in connection with the completion of our business combination.
Unlike many blank check 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 requires these tender offer documents to 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, 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 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 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 will provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its public 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 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the ordinary shares, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, voted at a shareholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination. In such case, our Sponsor and each member of our management team have agreed to vote their founder shares and private shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. To the extent that our Sponsor or any member of our management team acquires any public shares after we publicly announce our intention to engage in a proposed business combination, our Sponsor and each member of our management team have agreed pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement that they will not vote such shares for or against such business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need 6,279,166 public shares, or approximately 31.39% of the 20,000,000 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 issued and outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised). Assuming that only the holders of one-third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, vote their shares, we will not need any public shares in addition to our founder shares and the private shares held by our Sponsor to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or vote at all.
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If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares for or against our business combination.
Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (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), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price which is payable in cash and equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, 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 a letter agreement 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 shares if we fail to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our Sponsor, underwriter, executive officers or directors 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 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 stock, 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 equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses)) upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus.
Founder Shares
The founder shares 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: (1) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions contained in a letter agreement that our initial shareholders, directors and officers have entered into with us, as described in more detail below; (2) pursuant to such letter agreement, our initial shareholders, directors and officers have agreed to waive: (i) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and private shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and private shares held by them 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 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 provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and private 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 the completion window); and (3) the founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders, directors and officers have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote any shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
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Pursuant to a letter agreement that our initial shareholders, directors and officers have entered into with us, with certain limited exceptions, the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to our directors and officers and other persons or entities affiliated with our initial shareholders, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of: (A) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. In addition, the formation agreement of our Sponsor provides that its interests may only be transferred to a member’s affiliates (which affiliates shall include any member’s owners of an equity interest, direct investors, members, or limited partners, as the case may be), immediate family, or to a trust, the primary beneficiary(ies) of which is a member or members of such member’s immediate family.
Public Warrants
No warrants are currently outstanding. 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 on 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of Class A ordinary shares. This means that only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or the liquidation of the Company.
No public warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such warrant shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within 60 days from the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, commencing on the 61st day until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In the event of a cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of warrant shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of warrant shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the public shares for the ten trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise.
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| ● | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period 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 unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so redeemed is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those warrant shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. 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.
If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder may exercise his, her or its warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the public shares may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $12.00 exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued.
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The redemption criteria for our warrants have been conditioned on a share price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.
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 making such determination, 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 warrant shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. In such event, the 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 warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so exercised, and the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the fair market value by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the public shares for the ten 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. No fractional shares will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the holder.
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% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. 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 warrant agreement will provide that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision. 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 50% of the number of the then outstanding public warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private warrants or working capital warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private warrants, or working capital warrants (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the forfeiture or cancellation of any private warrants or working capital warrants), 50% of the number of then outstanding private warrants (including the vote or written consent of the underwriter) and working capital warrants.
The exercise price and number of warrant shares issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described below, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of Class A ordinary shares at a price below their respective exercise prices.
If (x) we issue additional 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 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 Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by them prior to such issuance), (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 Market Value is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the greater of (i) the Market Value or (ii) the price at which we issue the additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities.
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 have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A 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.
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Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration under the Securities Act of the warrant shares and thereafter use our best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so and, if we do not maintain a current prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, holders will be unable to exercise their warrants for cash and we will not be required to net cash settle or cash settle the warrant exercise.
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 of shares to be issued to the warrant holder. As a result, warrant holders not purchasing an even number of warrants must sell any odd number of warrants in order to obtain full value from the fractional interest that will not be issued.
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 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 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.
Private Warrants
The private warrants and working capital warrants will be identical to the public warrants sold in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private warrants and working capital warrants (i) may not (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants), subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, and (ii) the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private warrants and the working capital warrants will be entitled to registration. Amending our warrant agreement will require a vote of holders of at least 50% of the private warrants or working capital warrants (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the forfeiture or cancellation of any private warrants or working capital warrants) solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private warrants or working capital warrants. All other modifications or amendments require the vote or written consent the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding public warrants.
Preference Shares
There are no preference shares outstanding. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will authorize the issuance of 5,000,000 preference shares with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. No preference shares are being issued or registered in this offering. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preference shares with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of ordinary shares. However, the underwriting agreement will prohibit us, prior to a business combination, from issuing preference shares which participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or which votes as a class with the ordinary shares on a business combination. We may issue some or all of the preference shares to effect a business combination. In addition, the preference shares could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us. Although we do not currently intend to issue any preference shares, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
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Register of Members
Under the Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
| ● | the names and addresses of the members of the Company, a statement of the shares held by each member, which: |
| ● | distinguishes each share by its number (so long as the share has a number); |
| ● | confirms the amount paid, or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member; |
| ● | confirms the number and category of shares held by each member; and |
| ● | confirms whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the Articles, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional; |
| ● | 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. |
For these purposes, “voting rights” means rights conferred on shareholders, including the right to appoint directors, in respect of their shares to vote at general meetings of the Company on all or substantially all matters. A voting right is conditional where the voting right arises only in certain circumstances.
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 by us. 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.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then Board of Directors. It is the present intention of our Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our Board of Directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
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Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our shares and warrant agent for our warrants will be Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing of Securities
We anticipate that the units, as well as the Class A ordinary shares, and warrants underlying the units (once they begin separate trading), will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “KOYNU,” “KOYN” and “KOYNW,” respectively.
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 company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).
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 (i) a special resolution of the shareholders of each company; and (ii) 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 holds issued shares that together represent 90% of the votes at a general meeting of the subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company, provided the parent company is the surviving entity and a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of each subsidiary company to be merged unless that member agrees otherwise. 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 company are also required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that certain requirements have been met, including the following requirements: (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 applicable 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; and (v) there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.
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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 following requirements have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidation is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (A) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (B) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (C) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; and (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.
The Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid the fair value of their shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation in certain circumstances if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, where such rights apply, that procedure is as follows: (i) 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 their shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (ii) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is authorized by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (iii) 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 their shares; (iv) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (ii) 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 their 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 (v) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company must (and any dissenting shareholder may) file a petition with the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands to determine the fair value of all dissenting shares 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. A shareholder who dissents must do so in respect of all shares that that person holds in the constituent company. Upon the giving of a notice of dissent under paragraph (iii) above, the shareholder to whom the notice relates shall cease to have any of the rights of a shareholder except the right to be paid the fair value of that person’s shares and certain rights specified in the Companies Act. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenting shareholders 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, 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, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement,” which may be tantamount to a merger. Schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies. 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 75% 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 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 75% 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 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; |
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| ● | the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question; | |
| ● | the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and | |
| ● | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law 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 dissenters’ rights or 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% in value of the shares to whom the offer relates within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period after the expiration of the initial four-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. Forbes Hare, 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 of 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.” |
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.
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We have been advised by Forbes Hare, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to 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) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). 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:
| ● | annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the Company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act; | |
| ● | an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection and can be kept outside of the Cayman Islands; | |
| ● | an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting; | |
| ● | an exempted company may issue shares with no nominal or 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); and | |
| ● | an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
“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 circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
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Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain 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) the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (or any higher threshold specified in a company’s articles of association) of a company’s shareholders entitled to vote and so voting at a shareholder meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given; or (ii) if so authorized by a company’s articles of association, by a unanimous written resolution of all of the Company’s shareholders. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that special resolutions must be approved either by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a shareholder meeting of the Company (i.e., the lowest threshold permissible under Cayman Islands law), or by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders. Further, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that a quorum at our shareholder meetings will consist of one or more shareholders who together hold not less than one-third of the ordinary shares entitled to vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy.
Our initial shareholders and their permitted transferees, if any, who will collectively beneficially own 25% of our ordinary shares (assuming they do not purchase any public shares in this offering and excluding any shares underlying the private units) upon the closing of this offering, will 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 will provide, among other things, that:
| ● | if we do not consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but 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 taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further 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; |
| ● | prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we may not, except in connection with the conversion of Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares where the holders of such shares have waived any rights to receive funds from the trust account, issue additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on our initial business combination or on any other proposal presented to shareholders prior to or in connection with the completion of an 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 a business combination beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering or (y) amend the foregoing provisions; |
| ● | in the event we enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, our directors or our executive officers, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent valuation or accounting firm that such a business combination or transaction is fair to our Company from a financial point of view; |
| ● | if a shareholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other 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; |
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| ● | we must complete one or more business combinations that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held in trust and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of signing the agreement to enter into the initial business combination; |
| ● | our initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors; |
| ● | if our directors implement, following the approval of the shareholders, an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares, we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their ordinary shares upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein; |
| ● | we will not effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations; and |
| ● | unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in us, including but not limited to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any of our current or former director, officer or other employee to us or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States of America) and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provide that, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that we may have, each of our shareholders acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly we shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum. The forum selection provision in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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. 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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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 provides otherwise. Accordingly, although we could amend any of the provisions relating to our proposed offering, structure and business plan which are contained in our 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
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, is involved with terrorism or terrorist property or proliferation financing or is the business combination partner of a financial sanction and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct, money laundering or proliferation financing or is the business combination partner of a financial sanction; or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report will not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise. We reserve the right to refuse to make any payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, prevention of proliferation financing and financial sanctions 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.
Should a shareholder or its duly authorized delegates or agents be, or become (or is believed by the Company or its affiliates (“Agents”) to be or become) at any time while it owns or holds an interest in the Company, (a) an individual or entity named on any sanctions list maintained by the United Kingdom (including as extended to the Cayman Islands by Orders in Council) or the Cayman Islands or any similar list maintained under applicable law or is otherwise subject to applicable sanctions in the Cayman Islands (a “Sanctions Subject”) or (b) an entity owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a Sanctions Subject, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, then (i) the Company or its Agents may immediately and without notice to the shareholder cease any further dealings with the shareholder or freeze any dealings with the interests or accounts of the shareholder (e.g., by prohibiting payments by or to the shareholder or restricting or suspending dealings with the interests or accounts) or freeze the assets of the company (including interests or accounts of other shareholders who are not Sanctions Subjects), until the relevant person ceases to be a Sanctions Subject or a license is obtained under applicable law to continue such dealings (a “Sanctioned Persons Event”), (ii) the Company and its Agents may be required to report such action or failure to comply with information requests and to disclose the shareholder’s identity (and/or the identity of the shareholder’s beneficial owners and control persons) to the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, the Cayman Islands Financial Reporting Authority, or other applicable governmental or regulatory authorities (without notifying the Subscriber that such information has been so provided) and (iii) the Company and its Agents have no liability whatsoever for any liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and/or losses (including but not limited to any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of reputation and all interest, penalties and legal costs and all other professional costs and expenses) incurred by the shareholder as a result of a Sanctioned Persons Event.
Data Protection — Cayman Islands
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 promulgated pursuant thereto (the “DPL”) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.
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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 DPL (“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 DPL. In our use of personal data, we will be characterized under the DPL as a “data controller,” whilst certain of our service providers, affiliates, and delegates may act as “data processors” under the DPL. 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.
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 DPL. 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 DPL, 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 DPL, 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.
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In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a “data controller” for the purposes of the DPL, 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 DPL 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 to 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.
How the Company May Use a Shareholder’s Personal Data
The Company, as the data controller, may collect, store and use personal data for lawful purposes, including, in particular:
| ● | where this is necessary for the performance of our rights and obligations under any purchase agreements; | |
| ● | where this is necessary for compliance with a legal and regulatory obligation to which we are subject (such as compliance with anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing, prevention of proliferation financing, financial sanctions and FATCA/CRS requirements); and/or | |
| ● | 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
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 DPL.
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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.
Rights of Individual Data Subjects
Individual data subjects have certain data protection rights, including the right to:
| ● | be informed about the purposes for which your personal data are processed; | |
| ● | access your personal data; | |
| ● | stop direct marketing; | |
| ● | restrict the processing of your personal data; | |
| ● | have incomplete or inaccurate personal data corrected; | |
| ● | ask us to stop processing your personal data; | |
| ● | be informed of a personal data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial to you); | |
| ● | complain to the Data Protection Ombudsman; and | |
| ● | require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances. |
If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with 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.
Extraordinary General Meetings
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that extraordinary general meetings may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, by our Chief Executive Officer or by our Chairman.
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Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that shareholders seeking to bring business before our annual general meeting, or to nominate candidates for appointment and the removal as directors at our annual general meeting must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice will need to be received by the Company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual general meeting. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a shareholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our shareholders from bringing matters before our annual general meeting or from making nominations for directors at our annual general meeting. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the shareholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of us.
Written Resolutions
Subsequent to the consummation of the offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders may be effected by a duly called annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting or by written resolution passed in accordance with the Companies Law.
Limitation on Liability and 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, 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. 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 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.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
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SECURITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Immediately after this offering we will have 27,441,667 (or 31,557,917 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) ordinary shares outstanding. Of these shares, the 20,000,000 (or 23,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) Class A ordinary shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the 6,666,667 founder shares (or 7,666,667 if the over-allotment is exercised in full) and 775,000 private units (891,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.
Contractual Transfer Restrictions
Our Sponsor and our management team have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell (i) any of their founder shares until the earliest of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock 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, and (ii) any of their private units or any securities underlying the private units, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The foregoing restrictions are not applicable to transfers (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our officers or directors, any members or partners of our Sponsor or their affiliates, any affiliates of our Sponsor, 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 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 the 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 shares, as applicable, were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of our Sponsor’s organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of our Sponsor; (g) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination; (h) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; or (i) in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange 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 our completion of our 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 and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
The letter agreement with our Sponsor, officers and directors that includes the transfer restrictions described in the foregoing may be amended without shareholder approval with our written consent as well as the written consent of the Sponsor and our directors and officers to the extent they are the subject of any change, amendment, modification or waiver to the letter agreement. The written consent of the underwriter will also be required for an amendment of a provision of the letter agreement that subjects the Sponsor and our directors and officers to certain of the restrictions to be included in the underwriting agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor and our officers and directors will agree that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, they will not, without the prior written consent of the underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or hedge our units, warrants, Class A ordinary shares, Class B ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Class A ordinary shares. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to the letter agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to the letter agreement. Any such amendments to the letter agreement would not require approval from our shareholders and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities. In addition, the formation agreement of our Sponsor provides that its interests may only be transferred to a member’s affiliates (which affiliates shall include any member’s owners of an equity interest, direct investors, members, or limited partners, as the case may be), immediate family, or to a trust, the primary beneficiary(ies) of which is a member or members of such member’s immediate family.
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Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted securities 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 and warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
| ● | 1% of the total number of shares of our ordinary shares then outstanding, which will equal 312,500 shares immediately after this offering (or 359,375 if the underwriter exercise its over-allotment option in full); or |
| ● | the average weekly reported trading volume of shares of our public 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; |
| ● | 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 Sponsor will be able to sell its founder shares and private units, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.
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The below table summarizes the material terms of the restrictions described in the subsections above and whether and when our initial shareholders may sell securities purchased in connection with this offering:
| Stakeholder | Market Standoff Restrictions |
Shares Subject to Market Standoff Restrictions(1) |
Market Standoff Period(2) | |||
| Sponsor | Letter Agreement | Founder shares | Subject to the exceptions described above, the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (B) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property | |||
| Private units | 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination | |||||
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 from the date of this prospectus | |||||
| Directors and officers | Letter Agreement | Founder shares | Subject to the exceptions described above, the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or (B) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property | |||
| Public shares (if any purchased in connection with this offering) | 180 days from the date of this prospectus |
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| (1) | For more information on the number securities beneficial held by our initial shareholders, please see the section entitled “Principal Shareholders” in this prospectus. |
| (2) | The founder shares and private units issued in connection with this offering are restricted securities and subject to the limitations on transfer described above under “Securities Eligible for Future Sale — Rule 144” and “Securities Eligible for Future Sale — Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies.” Further, our initial shareholders that become affiliates of the post-business combination company for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be subject to additional resale restrictions, as described above. |
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private units (and underlying securities) and any units (and underlying securities) that may be issued on conversion of working capital loans will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to our ordinary shares). The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration 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 and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period as described under “Principal Shareholders”. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
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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 Taxation
The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.
Under Existing Cayman Islands Laws
The 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, gift 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.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of the warrants or the Class A ordinary shares. An instrument of transfer in respect of a warrant or a Class A ordinary shares is stampable if executed in or brought into the Cayman Islands.
The Company has been incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and, as such, has applied for and received an undertaking from the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands in a form substantially similar to the following on October 22, 2024:
“The Tax Concessions Act
(Revised)
Undertaking
as to Tax Concessions
In accordance with the Tax Concessions Act (Revised), the following undertaking is hereby given to the Company:
| 1. | That no law which is hereafter enacted in the Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to the Company or its operations; and | |
| 2. | 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 shall be payable: |
| 2.1 | On or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company; or |
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| 2.2 | by way of the withholding in whole or in part of any relevant payment as defined in the Tax Concessions Act (Revised). |
These concessions shall be for a period of 20 years from the 22nd day of October 2024.”
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 public units (each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and 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 public unit are generally separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a public unit generally should be treated, for United States federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying public share or public warrant components of the public unit. As a result, the discussion below with respect to holders of public shares and public warrants should also apply to holders of public units (as the deemed owners of the underlying public shares and public warrants that constitute the public 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 public unit pursuant to this offering and hold the public unit and each component of the public unit as a capital asset under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion assumes that the public shares and public warrants will trade separately and that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our public shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. This discussion is a summary only and does not consider all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of a public unit by a prospective investor in light of its particular circumstances, including:
| ● | our founders, the sponsor, officers or directors; | |
| ● | financial institutions or financial services entities; | |
| ● | broker-dealers; | |
| ● | taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market tax accounting rules; | |
| ● | S Corporations; | |
| ● | tax-exempt entities; | |
| ● | individual retirement accounts or other tax deferred accounts; | |
| ● | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; | |
| ● | insurance companies; | |
| ● | regulated investment companies; | |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; | |
| ● | expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; | |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares or five percent or more of the total value of our shares; | |
| ● | persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services; |
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| ● | persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; | |
| ● | persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to public shares or public warrants as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; | |
| ● | U.S. Holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; | |
| ● | controlled foreign corporations; or | |
| ● | passive foreign investment companies. |
Moreover, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof, and such provisions may be repealed, revoked, modified or subject to differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any aspect of United States federal non-income tax laws, such as alternative minimum gift, estate or Medicare contribution tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws.
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to any United States federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not change the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of public units, public shares or public warrants who or that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:
| ● | an individual citizen or resident of the United States; | |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; | |
| ● | an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or | |
| ● | a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person. |
This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our securities through such entities or arrangements. If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Partnerships holding our securities and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their own tax advisors.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES. THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF THE PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES MAY BE AFFECTED BY MATTERS NOT DISCUSSED HEREIN AND DEPENDS IN SOME INSTANCES ON DETERMINATION OF FACT AND INTERPRETATIONS OF COMPLEX PROVISIONS OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW FOR WHICH NO CLEAR PRECEDENT OR AUTHORITY MAY BE AVAILABLE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS AS WELL AS UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
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Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a public unit or instruments similar to a public unit for United States federal income tax purposes, and therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a public unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one public share one-half of one public warrant, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. We intend to treat the acquisition of a public unit in this manner and, by purchasing a public unit, you must adopt such treatment for United States federal income tax purposes. For United States federal income and other applicable tax purposes, each holder of a public unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such public unit between the one public share and one-half of one public warrant, based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under United States federal income tax law, each investor must make its own determination of such value based on all the facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult its tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each public share or one-half of one public warrant should be the shareholder’s tax basis in such share or warrant. Any disposition of a public unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the public shares and public warrants comprising the public unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the public share and one-half of one public warrant, based on their relative fair market values at the time of disposition (as determined by each such holder based on all the facts and circumstances).
The foregoing treatment of the public units, public shares, and public 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 public units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. If the IRS or a court were to determine that, contrary to the characterization described above, a public unit is a single instrument for United States federal income tax purposes, the tax consequences to an investor could be materially different than those described below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a public unit (including alternative characterizations of a public unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the public units (and the components thereof) and any allocation of purchase price of a public unit as described above is respected for United States federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income, in accordance with such U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes, as dividends the amount of any distribution of cash or other property paid on our public shares to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles). Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in its public 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 public shares. In the event that we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under United States federal income tax principles, a U.S. Holder should expect that all distributions will be reported as dividends for United States federal income tax purposes.
Dividends paid by us out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as described above generally will be taxable to a corporate U.S. Holder at regular rates and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to domestic corporations in respect of dividends received from other domestic corporations. With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, under tax laws currently in effect and subject to certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), dividends generally will be treated as “qualified dividend income” and taxed at the lower applicable long-term capital gains rate (see “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Public Shares” below) only if our public shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, the Company is not treated as a PFIC at the time the dividend was paid or in the preceding year and certain other requirements are met (including with respect to holding period). It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of such lower rate for any dividends paid with respect to our public shares.
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Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Public Shares and Public 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 public shares or public warrants (including on our dissolution and liquidation if we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period). Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such public shares or public warrants exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of our public shares or public warrants would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at ordinary income rates.
The amount of gain or loss recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition generally will be equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the public shares or public warrants are held as part of public units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the public shares or public warrants based upon the then fair market values of the public shares or public warrants included in the public units) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its public shares or public warrants so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its public shares or public warrants generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a public unit allocated to an public shares or public warrants, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) reduced, in the case of an public share by any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder is currently eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. See “— Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Public Warrant” below for a discussion regarding a U.S. Holder’s basis in a public share acquired pursuant to the exercise of a public warrant. The deduction of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. U.S. Holders who recognize losses with respect to a disposition of our securities should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of such losses.
Redemption of Public Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, in the event that a U.S. Holder’s public shares are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Ordinary Shares” or if we purchase a U.S. Holder’s public shares in an open market transaction, the treatment of the transaction for United States federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption or purchase by us qualifies as a sale or exchange of the public shares under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption or purchase by us qualifies as a sale or exchange of public shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as described under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Public Shares, Public Warrants” above. If the redemption or purchase by us does not qualify as a sale of public shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “— Taxation of Distributions.” Whether a redemption or purchase by us qualifies for treatment as a sale or exchange will depend largely on the total number of our shares treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any public shares constructively owned by the U.S. Holder described in the following paragraph) relative to all of our shares issued and outstanding both before and after such redemption or purchase. The redemption or purchase by us of public shares generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the public shares (rather than as a corporate distribution) if such redemption or purchase by us (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
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In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also our shares that are constructively owned by such holder. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to shares owned directly, shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any shares the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include public shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of public 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 or purchase by us of public shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80 percent of the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption or purchase by us. Prior to our initial business combination, the public shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other of our shares and otherwise complies with specific conditions. Whether the redemption or purchase by us of the public shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if such redemption or purchase by us results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption or purchase by us will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us generally will depend on the particular facts and circumstances applicable to such holder. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption or purchase by us of any public shares.
If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption or purchase by us of any public 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 public shares will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares. If there are no remaining shares, a U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the allocation of any remaining tax basis. U.S. Holders who actually or constructively own five percent (5%) (or, if the public shares are not then publicly traded, one percent (1%)) or more of the public shares (by vote or value) may be subject to special reporting requirements with respect to a redemption of public shares, and such holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisers with respect to their reporting requirements.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Public Warrant
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below and except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a public warrant, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of a public share on the exercise of a public warrant for cash. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a public share received upon exercise of the public warrant generally will equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the public warrant (that is, the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the public 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 public share will commence on the date of exercise of the public warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the public warrant; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the public warrant. If a public 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 public warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a public warrant are not clear under current law. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, 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 public shares received generally would equal the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the public warrants. If the cashless exercise was not a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the public share will commence on the date of exercise of the public warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the public warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the public shares would include the holding period of the public warrants.
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It is also possible that a cashless exercise may be treated as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder may be deemed to have surrendered public warrants with an aggregate value equal to the exercise price for the total number of public warrants deemed exercised. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, the U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the public warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such public warrants. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the public shares received would equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the public warrants deemed exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to such public warrants, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and the exercise price of such public warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the public shares would commence on the date of exercise of the public warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the public warrant.
Due to the absence of authority on the United States federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance 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 public warrants for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Warrants” or if we purchase public 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 Public Shares and Public Warrants.” In the case of a cashless exercise, the exercise may be treated either as if we redeemed such public warrant for public shares or as an exercise of the public warrant. If the cashless exercise of a public warrant for public shares is treated as a redemption, then such redemption generally should be treated as a tax-deferred recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case a U.S. Holder should not recognize any gain or loss on the deemed redemption and accordingly a U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the public shares received in the redemption should equal the U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the public warrants so redeemed and the holding period for the public shares should include the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the redeemed public warrants. However, if there is some uncertainty regarding this tax treatment and it is possible such a redemption could be treated as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. If the cashless exercise of the public warrant is treated as such, then the tax treatment would instead be treated as described above in the second and third paragraphs under “— U.S. Holders — Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant.” In the case of an exercise of a public warrant for cash, the tax treatment generally should be as described above in the first paragraph under “— U.S. Holders — Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant.”
Due to the lack of clarity under current law regarding the treatment of an exercise of a public warrant after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the public warrant, there can be no assurance as to which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences 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 the exercise of a public warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the public warrant as described above.
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of each public warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of public shares for which the public warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the public warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. Holders of the public 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 public shares that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the public warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property such as other securities to the holders of our public shares which is taxable to the U.S. Holders of such public shares as described under “— Taxation of Distributions” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. Holders of the public warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of the increase in the interest. For certain information reporting purposes, we are required to determine the date and amount of any such constructive distributions. Proposed Treasury regulations, which we may rely on prior to the issuance of final regulations, specify how the date and amount of constructive distributions are determined.
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Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
A non-U.S. corporation will be classified as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year (ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year), including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of assets giving rise to passive income.
Because we are a blank check company, with no current active operating business, we believe that it is likely that we will meet the PFIC asset or income test for our current taxable year. However, pursuant to a startup exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income (the “startup year”), if (i) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (ii) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the startup year; and (iii) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the startup exception to us will not be known until after the close of our current taxable year and, perhaps, until the end of our two taxable years following our startup year (within the meaning of the startup exception). Further, after the acquisition of a company or assets in a business combination, we may still meet one of the PFIC tests depending on the timing of the acquisition and the amount of our passive income and assets as well as the passive income and assets of the acquired business. If the company that we acquire in a business combination is a PFIC (or we do not complete a business acquisition by the end of the first taxable year after the taxable year of our formation), then we will likely not qualify for the startup exception and will be a PFIC for our current taxable year.
Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year (and, in the case of the startup exception to our current taxable year, perhaps not until after the end of our two taxable years following our startup year). Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. In addition, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status for any taxable year.
Although our PFIC status is determined annually, an initial determination that our company is a PFIC will generally apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held (or is deemed to have held) public shares or public 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 and, in the case of our public shares, the U.S. Holder did not make either a mark-to-market election, a timely qualified electing fund (“QEF”) election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) public shares, or a QEF election together with a purging election, each as described below, such U.S. Holder generally will be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its public shares or public warrants and (ii) any “excess distribution” made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of the public shares during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the public shares).
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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 public shares or public 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; and | |
| ● | an additional amount equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder with respect to the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder. |
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may be able to avoid certain PFIC tax consequences described above in respect to our public shares (likely not our public warrants) by making and maintaining a timely and valid QEF election (if eligible to do so) to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends. A U.S. Holder generally may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.
If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to its public shares in a year after our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) public shares, then notwithstanding such QEF election, the excess distribution rules discussed above, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such U.S. Holder’s public shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. Under one type of purging election, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold such public shares at their fair market value and any gain recognized on such deemed sale will be treated as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of such purging election, the U.S. Holder will have additional basis (to the extent of any gain recognized on the deemed sale) and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, a new holding period in the public shares.
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It is not entirely clear how various aspects of the PFIC rules apply to the public warrants. However, a U.S. Holder may not make a QEF election with respect to its public warrants to acquire our public shares. As a result, if a U.S. Holder sells or otherwise disposes of such public warrants (other than upon exercise of such public warrants for cash) and we were a PFIC at any time during the U.S. Holder’s holding period of such public warrants, any gain recognized generally will be treated as an excess distribution, taxed as described above. If a U.S. Holder that exercises such public warrants properly makes and maintains a QEF election with respect to the newly acquired public shares (or has previously made a QEF election with respect to our public shares), the QEF election will apply to the newly acquired public shares. Notwithstanding any such QEF election, the adverse tax consequences relating to PFIC shares, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such newly acquired public shares (which 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 public warrants), unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. Under one type of purging election, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold such shares at their fair market value and any gain recognized on such deemed sale will be treated as an excess distribution, as described above. Under another type of purging election, an electing U.S. Holder will be treated as having received as an excess distribution its ratable share of our earnings and profits determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In order for a U.S. Holder to make the second election, we must also be a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in the Code, and there are no assurances that we will so qualify. As a result of either purging election, the U.S. Holder will generally have additional basis (to the extent of the excess distribution resulting from the purging election) and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, a new holding period in the public shares acquired upon the exercise of the public warrants. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the applicability of the rules governing purging elections to their particular circumstances.
The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed United States federal income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances. Under current law, a QEF election may not be made with respect to our public warrants.
In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election, but there is no assurance that we will timely provide such required information. There is also no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.
If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our public shares, and the excess distribution rules discussed above do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of our public 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 public 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 public shares for such a taxable year.
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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) public 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 public shares. Instead, in general, the U.S. Holder will include for each of its taxable years as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its public shares at the end of such year over its adjusted basis in its public shares. These amounts of ordinary income would not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. The U.S. Holder also will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis of its public shares over the fair market value of its public 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 public 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 public shares will be treated as ordinary income. Currently, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to public warrants.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” generally, stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Nasdaq (on which we intend to list the public shares), or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. In general, the public shares will be treated as regularly traded in any calendar year in which more than a de minimis quantity of public shares are traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. There can be no assurance that trading in our public shares will be sufficient to treat such shares as “marketable stock” for these purposes in any given calendar year.
If made, a mark-to-market election would be effective for the taxable year for which the election was made and for all subsequent taxable years unless the public 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 public shares under their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. Upon written request we will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a U.S. Holder the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. There can be no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we will be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide such required information. A mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.
A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder, may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or mark-to-market election is made) and such other information as may be required by the Treasury. Failure to do so, if required, will extend the statute of limitations until such required information is furnished to the IRS.
The rules dealing with PFICs and with the QEF and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of our public shares, public warrants should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules to our securities under their particular circumstances.
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Tax Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders may be required to file an IRS Form 926 (Return by a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) to report a transfer of property (including cash) to us. Substantial penalties may be imposed on a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting requirement, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes will be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Furthermore, certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities will be required to report information with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets), subject to certain exceptions. Specified foreign financial assets generally include any financial account maintained with a non-U.S. financial institution and should also include the public shares, public 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 U.S. federal income taxes will generally be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Potential investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the foreign financial asset and other reporting obligations and their application to an investment in our public shares, public 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 public units, public shares, or public warrants (other than a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) who or that is for United States federal income tax purposes:
| ● | a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates); | |
| ● | a foreign corporation; or | |
| ● | an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder; |
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of the sale or other disposition of our securities.
Dividends (including constructive distributions treated as dividends) paid or deemed paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect of our public shares generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States). If the dividend, despite being paid by a foreign corporation, is deemed to be U.S. source under the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, then withholding at a 30% rate applies, unless such tax rate is lowered by an applicable income tax treaty. In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other taxable disposition of our public shares or public 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 holder maintains in the United States).
Dividends (including constructive distributions treated as dividends) and gains that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States) generally will be subject to United States federal income tax at the same regular United States federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.
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The characterization for United States federal income tax purposes of the redemption or purchase by us of a Non-U.S. Holder’s public shares will generally correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption or purchase by us of a U.S. Holder’s public shares, as described under “— U.S. Holders — Redemption of Public Shares” above, and the consequences of the redemption or purchase by us to the Non-U.S. Holder will be as described in the paragraphs above under the heading “— Non-U.S. Holders” based on such characterization.
The United States federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. Holder’s exercise of a public warrant, or the lapse of a public warrant held by a Non-U.S. Holder, generally will correspond to the United States federal income tax treatment of the exercise or lapse of a public warrant by a U.S. Holder, as described under “— U.S. Holders — Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Public 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 public shares and public warrants.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our public shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of our public shares, or public warrants may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible United States backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status may be required to provide such certification on IRS Form W-9. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a holder’s United States federal income tax liability, and a holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.
The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is included for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a holder’s particular situation. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our public shares and public warrants, including the tax consequences under U.S. federal, state and local, estate, non-U.S. and other tax laws and tax treaties and the possible effects of changes in U.S. or other tax laws.
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We are offering the units described in this prospectus through the underwriter named below. We will enter into an underwriting agreement with Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriter will agree to purchase, and we will agree to sell to the underwriter, the number of public units listed next to each name in the following table.
| Underwriter | Number of Units |
|||
| Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC | ||||
| Total | 20,000,000 | |||
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriter must buy all of the public units if it buys any of them. However, the underwriter is not required to purchase the units covered by the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units as described below. The underwriter may offer and sell the units through certain of its affiliates or other registered broker-dealers or selling agents.
Our public units are offered hereby subject to a number of conditions, including:
| ● | receipt and acceptance of such units by the underwriter; and |
| ● | the underwriter’s right to reject orders in whole or in part. |
In connection with this offering, the underwriter or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically.
Our Sponsor is advised by Consilium Investment Management LLC (“CIM”), an SEC-registered investment management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Charles T. Cassel III, our Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Binder, one of our directors, are principals of CIM. Given our affiliation with CIM, we intend to capitalize on its global platform and investment expertise which we believe, together with the extensive experience of our management team, well positions our Company. CIM will act as an advisor and will assist with general diligence, administrative, and advisory support we require in the sourcing of potential targets for our initial business combination or in its general role as advisor. However, we have not entered into a formal agreement with CIM and we will not compensate CIM for such services. The founders of CIM have over six decades of experience in Emerging Markets and Frontier Growth Markets. They have deep relationships with companies, management teams, policy makers, and advisors in the space. CIM and its founders have participated in private equity and mezzanine financing transactions and will rely on their broad network in Frontier Growth Markets in order to identify target acquisitions that have the desire to list in the United States and have the infrastructure necessary to comply with regulatory requirements.
Our Sponsor is also advised by affiliates of Meteora Capital, LLC, an investment adviser specializing in SPAC-related investments (“Meteora”). Vikas Mittal, our Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Meteora. Meteora will act as an advisor to the Company in connection with this offering and, in such capacity, will provide general diligence, administrative, and advisory support, but has not entered into any formal agreement with the Company and will not receive any compensation for such role. Meteora’s principals have previous experience across the full lifecycle of SPACs, from the initial public offering to the deSPAC business combination process. Meteora will provide resources including a network of relationships, extensive SPAC knowledge base and a standardized SPAC operating system to streamline the business combination process. Meteora’s ability to invest across the entire SPAC capital structure (risk capital, primary market, secondary market, PIPEs, convertible notes and other special situations) has created an end-to-end platform and partner to SPAC sponsors. Furthermore, Meteora has diverse sector experience across digital assets, technology, media & telecommunications, fintech, energy, consumer & retail, business & distribution services, healthcare, aerospace & defense. Meteora believes that its access to numerous private equity and venture capital backed private companies provides a robust pipeline for potential acquisition candidates. Meteora is expected to purchase public units from the underwriter in this offering at the offering price. Meteora is neither a broker-dealer nor affiliated with one and is not acting as an underwriter in connection with this offering.
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Option to Purchase Additional Public Units
We have granted the underwriter an option to buy up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 additional units. The underwriter has 45 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option. If the underwriter exercises this option, it will purchase additional public units approximately in proportion to the amounts specified in the table above.
Private Units
The underwriter will commit to purchase from us 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. The private units purchased by the underwriter have terms and provisions that are identical to the public units and the private shares contained in the units sold in this offering except as described under “Description of Securities—Units,” including that, subject to certain exceptions, the private units purchased by the underwriter will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The purchases of the private units by the underwriter will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Such private units will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. Such private units will be subject to lock-up restrictions, as required by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), and may not be sold during the offering, or 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 such securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales of the offering, except as provided in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). The private units will also be subject to limitations on registration in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8).
Underwriting Discount
Units sold by the underwriter to the public will initially be offered at the initial offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any units sold by the underwriter to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $10.00 per unit from the IPO price. Sales of units made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriter. After the initial public offering, if all the units are not sold at the IPO price, the underwriter may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Upon execution of the underwriting agreement, the underwriter will be obligated to purchase the public units at the prices and upon the terms stated therein.
The following table shows the per unit and total underwriting discount we will pay to the underwriter assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units.
| No Exercise | Full Exercise | |||||||
| Per Public Unit(1) | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.60 | ||||
| Total | $ | 12,000,000 | $ | 13,800,000 | ||||
| (1) | $0.20 per unit, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units is exercised in full), is payable to the underwriter upon the closing of this offering. The underwriter has committed to using $2,750,000 of such funds to purchase from us 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. $0.40 per unit, or up to $8,000,000 in the aggregate (or up to $9,200,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s option to purchase additional public units is exercised in full), payable to the underwriter for the deferred underwriting commissions will be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be payable to the underwriter as consideration for the services described in the paragraph below and will be released to the underwriter only on and concurrently with completion of our initial business combination. |
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $2,973,324. Further, we have agreed to pay for accountable expenses of the underwriter (including the underwriter’s legal counsel), not to exceed $100,000, and the expenses of investigations and background checks of our officers and directors.
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No Sales of Similar Securities
We, our executive officers and directors, and our Sponsor will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriter. Under the lock-up agreements, subject to certain exceptions, we and each of these persons may not, without the prior written approval of the underwriter offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or hedge our units, warrants, Class A ordinary shares, Class B ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Class A ordinary shares. These restrictions will be in effect for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.
The underwriter may, at any time and in its sole discretion, release some or all the securities from these lock-up agreements. The underwriter will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time. If the restrictions under the lock-up agreements are waived, our units, warrants, Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares may become available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price of our securities.
Except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders,” our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their respective founder shares and private units that they may hold until the date that is (i) in the case of the founder shares, the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or (B) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property, and (ii) in the case of the private units or any securities underlying the private units, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the lock-up period of the non-managing Sponsor investors shall not be longer than the Sponsor’s lock-up period; provided that if upon consummation of an initial business combination, any securityholder holding more than three percent (3.0%) of the capital stock of the surviving company is not subject to a lock-up agreement or is subject to a lock-up agreement for a shorter period of time than the non-managing Sponsor investors, unless required to comply with the Nasdaq listing conditions, the non-managing Sponsor investors’ lock-up period shall be reduced to the shortest lock-up period or terminated, as the case may be.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriter against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we have agreed to contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
Nasdaq Listing
We intend to apply for listing of our public units on Nasdaq under the symbol “KOYNU” and, once the public units begin separate trading, we expect our Class A ordinary shares, and public warrants to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “KOYN” and “KOYNW,” respectively.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions
In connection with this offering, the underwriter may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of units during and after this offering, including:
| ● | stabilizing transactions; |
| ● | short sales; |
| ● | purchases to cover positions created by short sales; |
| ● | imposition of penalty bids; and |
| ● | syndicate covering transactions. |
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Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units while this offering is in progress. Stabilization transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. These transactions may also include making short sales of our units, which involve the sale by the underwriter of a greater number of units than it is required to purchase in this offering and purchasing units on the open market to cover short positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered short sales,” which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units referred to above, or may be “naked short sales,” which are short positions in excess of that amount.
The underwriter may close out any covered short position by either exercising its over-allotment option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing units in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option.
Naked short sales are short sales made in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriter 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 underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchased in this offering.
These stabilizing transactions, short sales, purchases to cover positions created by short sales, the imposition of penalty bids and syndicate covering transactions may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units. As a result of these activities, the price of our units may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriter may carry out these transactions on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Neither we nor the underwriter make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the units. Neither we, nor the underwriter make any representation that the underwriter will engage in these stabilization transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Determination of Offering Price
Prior to this offering, there was no public market for our units. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiation between us and the underwriter. The principal factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price include:
| ● | the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the underwriter; |
| ● | our history and prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete; |
| ● | our past and present financial performance; |
| ● | our prospects for future earnings and the present state of our development; |
| ● | the general condition of the securities market at the time of this offering; |
| ● | the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded units of generally comparable companies; and |
| ● | other factors deemed relevant by the underwriter and us. |
The estimated public offering price range set forth on the cover page of this preliminary prospectus is subject to change as a result of market conditions and other factors. Neither we nor the underwriter can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our units, warrants or Class A ordinary shares or that the units will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.
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Affiliations
The underwriter and its affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriter and its affiliates may from time to time in the future engage with us and perform services for us or in the ordinary course of their business for which they will receive customary fees and expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriter and its 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, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of us. The underwriter and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of these securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in these securities and instruments.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage the underwriter to provide any services for us after this offering and have no present intent to do so. However, the underwriter may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If the underwriter provides 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 the underwriter and no fees for such services will be paid to the underwriter prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriter’s compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriter of this offering or any entity with which it is affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Notice to Residents of Canada
The securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area and United Kingdom
This prospectus is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This prospectus and any offer if made subsequently is directed only at persons in Member States of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (the “UK”) (each, a “Relevant State”) who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of our securities in any Relevant State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of our securities. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant State of our securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or any of the underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation in relation to such offer. Neither we nor the underwriter has authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of our securities in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriter to publish a prospectus for such offer. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
223
In relation to each Relevant State, no offer of our securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus to the public may be made in that Relevant State other than:
| (a) | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; |
| (b) | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant underwriter or underwriter nominated by us for any such offer; or |
| (c) | in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of our securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of our securities to the public” in relation to our securities in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and our securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for our securities.
This EEA and UK selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland
This prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the units in Switzerland. The units offered hereby may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the units to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the units constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the units may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Selling Restrictions with Respect to the United Kingdom
This prospectus may not be distributed or circulated to any person in the UK other than to (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); and (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus is directed only at relevant persons. Other persons should not act on this prospectus or any of its contents. This prospectus is confidential and is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced, redistributed or passed on to any other person or published, in whole or in part, for any other purpose.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of our securities may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us.
All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to our securities in, from or otherwise involving the UK.
224
Notice to Prospective Investors in France
Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or by the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units has been or will be:
| ● | released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or |
| ● | used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the units to the public in France. |
Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:
| ● | to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Article L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier; |
| ● | to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or |
| ● | in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1° -or-2° -or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne). |
The units may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
No securities have been offered or sold, and no securities may be offered or sold, in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (“SFO”) and any rules made under the SFO; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (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 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 under that Ordinance.
This prospectus has not been registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. Accordingly, this prospectus 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 prospectus 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.
225
Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
This prospectus has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the securities may not be 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 persons 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 pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the 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 in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or |
| ● | a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: |
| (i) | to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; |
| (ii) | where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; |
| (iii) | where the transfer is by operation of law; |
| (iv) | as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or |
| (v) | as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore. |
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Cayman Islands
No offer or invitation, whether directly or indirectly may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for our securities.
226
Loeb & Loeb LLP, is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to units and warrants. Forbes Hare will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to the ordinary shares and matters of Cayman Islands law. In connection with this offering, DLA Piper LLP (US), is acting as counsel to the underwriter.
The financial statements of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and for the period from July 26, 2024 (date of inception) through December 31, 2024 included in this prospectus have been audited by Elliott Davis, PLLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to going concern, appearing herein and elsewhere in this prospectus. Such financial statements have been included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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 (if we are a foreign private issuer, in certain cases voluntarily) annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements (if we will not be a foreign private issuer at such time) 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.
227
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder
of CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, the related statements of operations, changes in shareholder’s deficit, and cash flows for the period from July 26, 2024 (inception) through December 31, 2024 and the period January 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025, 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 March 31, 2025, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for period from July 26, 2024 (inception) through December 31, 2024 and the period from January 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has a working capital deficiency, expects to incur significant costs in pursuit of its acquisition plans, and has stated that substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with 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 and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 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/ Elliott Davis, PLLC
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2024.
Charlotte, North Carolina
June 18, 2025 except for Notes 1, 6, and 9, as to which the date is July 22, 2025
F-2
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
BALANCE SHEETS
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current asset – cash | $ | 25,000 | $ | - | ||||
| Deferred offering costs | 85,281 | 35,480 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 110,281 | $ | 35,480 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S DEFICIT | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accrued offering costs | $ | 85,281 | $ | 35,480 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 6,870 | 11,426 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 36,143 | - | ||||||
| Promissory note – related party | 11,394 | 11,394 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | 139,688 | 58,300 | ||||||
| Shareholder’s Deficit | ||||||||
| Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding | - | - | ||||||
| Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 445,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding | - | - | ||||||
| Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 7,666,667 and 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively | 767 | - | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 24,233 | - | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (54,407 | ) | (22,820 | ) | ||||
| Total Shareholder’s Deficit | (29,407 | ) | (22,820 | ) | ||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S DEFICIT | $ | 110,281 | $ | 35,480 | ||||
| (1) | Includes up to 1,000,000 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriter (Note 8). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 |
For the Period From July 26, 2024 (inception) Through December 31, 2024 |
|||||||
| Formation, general and administrative costs | $ | 31,587 | $ | 22,820 | ||||
| Loss from operations | (31,587 | ) | (22,820 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted weighted average Class B ordinary shares outstanding(1) | 6,666,667 | - | ||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | - | |||
| (1) | Excludes up to 1,000,000 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriter (Note 8). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER’S DEFICIT
| Class B Ordinary shares |
Additional Paid-In |
Accumulated | Shareholder’s | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Deficit | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of July 26, 2024 (inception) | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (22,820 | ) | (22,820 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (22,820 | ) | $ | (22,820 | ) | |||||||||
| Class B ordinary shares issued to Sponsor(1) | 7,666,667 | 767 | 24,233 | - | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (31,587 | ) | (31,587 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2025 | 7,666,667 | $ | 767 | $ | 24,233 | $ | (54,407 | ) | $ | (29,407 | ) | |||||||||
| (1) | Includes up to 1,000,000 Class B ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriter (Note 8). |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 |
For the Period from July 26, 2024 (inception) Through December 31, 2024 |
|||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (31,587 | ) | $ | (22,820 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||
| Formation, general and administrative costs paid by Sponsor under promissory note – related party | - | 11,394 | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | 36,143 | - | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | (4,556 | ) | 11,426 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | - | - | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of Class B ordinary shares | 25,000 | - | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 25,000 | - | ||||||
| Net change in cash | 25,000 | - | ||||||
| Cash, beginning of the period | - | - | ||||||
| Cash, end of the period | $ | 25,000 | $ | - | ||||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities: | ||||||||
| Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs | $ | 85,281 | $ | 35,480 | ||||
| Formation, general and administrative costs paid by Sponsor under promissory note – related party | $ | - | $ | 11,394 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2025
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd (formerly known as, CSLM Acquisition Corporation II, Ltd) (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on July 26, 2024. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company has not selected any specific Business Combination target, and the Company has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination target with respect to an initial Business Combination with the Company.
As of March 31, 2025, the Company has not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from July 26, 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 may generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents and dividend income from marketable securities purchased 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 Sponsor is CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd (the “Sponsor”). The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering of 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Units”) (or 23,000,000 Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3 (the “Proposed Public Offering”), and the sale of an aggregate of 775,000 private units (or 891,250 private units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Private Units”) to the Sponsor and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC (“CCM”), the underwriter of the Proposed Public Offering, at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, or $7,750,000 in the aggregate (or $8,912,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering, which is discussed in Note 4. Of those 775,000 Private Units (or 891,250 Private Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), the Sponsor has agreed to purchase 500,000 Private Units (or 575,000 Private Units in the event that the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and CCM has agreed to purchase 275,000 Private Units (or 316,250 Private Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full).
Each Unit will consist of one Class A ordinary share (the “Public Shares”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”). Each Private Unit will consist of one Class A ordinary share (“Private Placement Share”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (“Private Placement Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant and Private Placement Warrant (together the “Warrants”) entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. 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 Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a Business Combination (less deferred underwriting commissions).
The Company’s Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing an agreement to enter into a 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.
F-7
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 (the “Trust Account”) and initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended Business Combination. To mitigate the risk that the Company might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that the Company holds investments in the Trust Account, the Company may, at any time (based on the management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to the Company’s potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay its taxes, if any, the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of the Company’s Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or by such earlier liquidation date as the Company’s board of directors may approve (the “Completion Window”), subject to applicable law, or (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 (A) modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the Completion Window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. 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.
The Company will provide the Company’s public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial Business Combination upon 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 the Company will seek shareholder approval of a proposed initial Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public shareholders will be entitled to redeem their shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, subject to the limitations. The amount in the Trust Account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share. The ordinary shares subject to redemption will be recorded at redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
The Company will have only the duration of the Completion Window to complete the initial Business Combination. However, if the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within the Completion Window, the Company will 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 amounts withdrawn to pay our taxes and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will constitute full and complete payment for the Public Shares and completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation or other distributions, if any), subject to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
F-8
The Sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with the Company, pursuant to which they agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial Business Combination. Additionally, the Sponsor, officers and directors will agree 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 prescribed time frame, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from assets outside the Trust Account. If we do not complete the initial Business Combination within the prescribed time frame, the Private Units (and the securities comprising such units) will be worthless. Furthermore, the Sponsor, officers and directors will agree 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 a Business Combination and (ii) subsequent to a Business Combination, the date on which the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the Company’s initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares (the “Lock-up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company consummates a transaction after the initial Business Combination which results in the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the Lock-up.
The Company’s Sponsor will agree that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriter of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). However, the Company has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and the Company believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, the Company cannot assure that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had $25,000 in cash and working capital deficiency of $114,688. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no cash and a working capital deficiency of $58,300. 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 one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Public Offering. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful within the Combination Period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
F-9
Note 2 — 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 (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
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 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 U.S. 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 period. 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 had $25,000 and no cash, and no cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
Deferred Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A, “Expenses of Offering.” Deferred offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional costs to be incurred, will be charged to operations. Should the Proposed Public offering prove to be successful, these deferred costs, as well as additional costs to be incurred, will be charged to shareholder’s equity upon completion of the offering.
F-10
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,” approximate the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid to transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:
| ● | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; | |
| ● | Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and | |
| ● | Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
Net Loss per Ordinary Share
Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 1,000,000 ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriter (see Note 8). At March 31, 2025 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 ordinary share is the same as basic loss per ordinary share for the period presented.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the 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 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 is considered to be a Cayman Islands exempted 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 periods presented.
F-11
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The underwriter’s over-allotment option is deemed to be a freestanding financial instrument indexed on the contingently redeemable shares and will be accounted for as a liability pursuant to ASC 480 if not fully exercised at the time of the Proposed Public Offering.
Warrant Instruments
The Company will account for the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants to be issued in connection with the Proposed Public Offering and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Accordingly, the Company evaluated and will classify the warrant instruments under equity treatment at their relative fair values. There are no Public Warrants or Private Placement Warrants currently outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”). The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 on July 26, 2024, the date of its incorporation.
Note 3 — Proposed Public Offering
In the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 20,000,000 Units (or 23,000,000 Units if the underwriter’s 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, one-half of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Each Public Warrant will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination and will expire five years after the completion of the initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
F-12
Public Warrants — No Warrants are currently outstanding. Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed herein. The Warrants cannot be exercised until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination, and will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of the initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Company 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. No Warrant will be exercisable and the Company 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 the Company 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.
Under the terms of the warrant agreement, the Company will agree that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of its Business Combination, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement for the Proposed Public Offering 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 its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following the Company’s 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 the initial Business Combination, Warrant holders may, commencing on the 61st day 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 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, the Company 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.
If the holders exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis, they 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 of Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of the Class A ordinary shares 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.
F-13
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $18.00: The Company may redeem the outstanding Warrants:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per Warrant; |
| ● | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”); and |
| ● | if, and only if, the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a Warrant) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing at least 30 days after completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Warrant holders. |
Additionally, if the number of outstanding Class A ordinary shares is increased by a share capitalization payable in Class A ordinary shares, or by a subdivision of ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, subdivision 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 made to all or substantially all 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.
Note 4 — Private Placement
The Sponsor and CCM have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 775,000 Private Units (or 891,250 Private Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, or $7,750,000 in the aggregate (or $8,912,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering. Of those 775,000 Private Units (or 891,250 Private Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), the Sponsor has agreed to purchase 500,000 Private Units (or 575,000 Private Units in the event that the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and CCM has agreed to purchase 275,000 Private Units (or 316,250 Private Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). Each Private Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole Private Placement Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
The Private Placement Warrants will be identical to the Public Warrants sold in the Proposed Public Offering except that, so long as they are held by the Sponsor, CCM, or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants (i) may not (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of these Private Placement Warrants), subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) will be entitled to registration rights and (iii) with respect to Private Placement Warrants held by CCM, LLC and/or its designees, will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in this offering in accordance with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Rule 5110(g)(8).
F-14
The Sponsor, officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with the Company, pursuant to which they will agree to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares held by them in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination; (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares held by them in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the 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 initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the Completion Window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity; (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their founder shares and Private Placement Shares if the Company fails to complete an initial Business Combination within the Completion Window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares they hold if the Company fails to complete an initial Business Combination within the prescribed time frame and to liquidating distributions from assets outside the Trust Account; and (iv) vote any founder shares and Private Placement Shares held by them and any Public Shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination transaction) in favor of the initial Business Combination.
Note 5 — Segment Information
ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for companies to report, in their financial statements, information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities from which it may recognize revenues and incur expenses, and for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker, or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s CODM has been identified as the Chief Financial Officer, who reviews the operating results for the Company as a whole to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial performance. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company only has one reportable segment.
The CODM assesses performance for the single segment and decides how to allocate resources based on net income or loss that also is reported on the statement of operations as net income or loss. The measure of segment assets is reported on the balance sheet as total assets. When evaluating the Company’s performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation, the CODM reviews several key metrics included in net income or loss and total assets, which include the following:
| March 31, 2025 |
December 31, 2024 |
|||||||
| Cash | $ | 25,000 | $ | - | ||||
| Deferred offering costs | $ | 85,281 | $ | 35,480 | ||||
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 |
For the Period from July 26, 2024 (inception) through December 31, 2024 |
|||||||
| Formation, general and administrative expenses | $ | 31,587 | $ | 22,820 | ||||
| Net Loss | $ | (31,587 | ) | $ | (22,820 | ) | ||
F-15
The CODM reviews formation, general and administrative costs to manage and forecast cash to ensure enough capital is available to complete a business combination or similar transaction within the business combination period. The CODM also reviews formation, general and administrative costs to manage, maintain and enforce all contractual agreements to ensure costs are aligned with all agreements and budget. Formation, general and administrative costs, as reported on the statement of operations, are the significant segment information provided to the CODM on a regular basis. All other segment items included in net income or loss are reported on the statement of operations and described within their respective disclosures.
The CODM reviews the position of total assets available with the company to assess if the Company has sufficient resources available to discharge its liabilities. The CODM is provided with details of cash and liquid resources available with the Company. Additionally, the CODM regularly reviews the status of deferred costs incurred to assess if these are in line with the planned use of proceeds to be raised from the public offering.
Note 6 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On January 23, 2025 the Sponsor made capital contributions of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain of the Company’s expenses, for which the Company issued 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares (“founder shares”) to the Sponsor. In March 2025, the Company effected a share capitalization pursuant to which the Company issued an additional 1,916,667 founder shares resulting in an aggregate of 7,666,667 founder shares outstanding to the Sponsor, resulting in a price per share of approximately $0.003 per share. Up to 1,000,000 of the Founder Shares may be surrendered by the Sponsor for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
The Company’s initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares and any Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion thereof until the earlier of (i) six months after the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) subsequent to a Business Combination, the date on which the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the Company’s initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares (the “Lock-up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company consummates a transaction after the initial Business Combination which results in the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the Lock-up.
Promissory Note — Related Party
The Sponsor has agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing, unsecured and due at the earlier of (i) the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or (ii) the date which the Company determines not to proceed with the Proposed Public Offering. The Promissory Note will be repaid out of the $2,973,324 of offering proceeds that has been allocated to the payment of offering expenses. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had borrowed $11,394 under the Promissory Note.
F-16
Administrative Services Agreement
Commencing on the effective date of the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the Company will enter into an agreement with our Sponsor to pay an aggregate of $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of the initial Business Combination or the liquidation, the Company will cease paying the $30,000 per month fee.
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required on a non-interest basis (the “Working Capital Loans”). If we complete an initial Business Combination, the Company would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use amounts held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the 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. Such units would be identical to the Private Units. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, no such Working Capital Loans were outstanding.
Note 7 — Commitments and Contingencies
Risks and Uncertainties
The 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 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 cyberattacks 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 above mentioned 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 the Company’s search for an initial Business Combination and any target business with which the Company may ultimately consummate an initial Business Combination.
F-17
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 Units (and the securities comprising such units and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) which will be issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and (iii) Private Units (and the securities comprising such units and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans will have registration rights to require the Company to register a sale of any of the Company’s securities held by them and any other securities of the Company acquired by them prior to the consummation of an initial Business Combination pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering.
The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of an initial Business Combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, CCM may only make a demand on one occasion and only during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, CCM may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriter a 45-day option from the date of the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.
The underwriter will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of 2.00% of the gross proceeds of the units offered in the Proposed Public Offering, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to the underwriter upon the closing of this offering. The underwriter has committed to using $2,750,000 of such funds to purchase from us 275,000 private units (or 316,250 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit. Additionally, the underwriter will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 4.00% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering held in the Trust Account, or up to $8,000,000 in the aggregate (or up to $9,200,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). The deferred fee will become payable to the Underwriter from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Note 8 — Shareholder’s Equity
Preference Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 1,000,000 preference shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At March 31, 2025 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 445,000,000 Class A ordinary shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At March 31, 2025 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 par value of $0.0001 each. On January 23, 2025, the Company issued 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor for $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. In March 2025, the Company effected a share capitalization pursuant to which the Company issued an additional 1,916,667 founder shares resulting in an aggregate of 7,666,667 founder shares outstanding or approximately $0.003 per share. The founder shares include an aggregate of up to 1,000,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriter in full. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
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The founder shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares (which such Class A ordinary shares delivered upon conversion will not have any redemption rights or be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to consummate an initial Business Combination) concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of an initial Business Combination or earlier at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares, or any other equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to or in connection with the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 25% of the sum of (i) the total number of all Class A ordinary shares outstanding upon the completion of this offering (including any Class A ordinary shares issued pursuant to the underwriter’s over-allotment option and excluding the Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the Private Units and the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor), plus (ii) all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued, in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any private placement-equivalent units issued to our Sponsor or any of its affiliates or to the Company’s officers or directors upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) minus (iii) any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by public shareholders in connection with an initial Business Combination and any Class A ordinary shares redeemed by public shareholders in connection with any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association made prior to the consummation of the initial business combination (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 the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares or pre-business combination activity; provided that such conversion of founder shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
Holders of record of the Company’s 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 shareholders. Unless specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or as required by the Companies Act or stock exchange rules, a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the Company is generally required to approve any matter voted on by the Company’s shareholders. Approval of certain actions require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, which (except as specified below) requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting, 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. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors, meaning, following the Company’s initial Business Combination, the holders of more than 50% of the Company’s ordinary shares voted for the appointment of directors can elect all of the directors. Prior to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, only holders of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares will (i) have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of directors and (ii) be entitled to vote on continuing the Company in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands (including any special resolution required to amend our constitutional documents or to adopt new constitutional documents, in each case, as a result of approving a transfer by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands). Holders of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on these matters during such time. These provisions of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended if approved by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of at least 90% (or, where such amendment is proposed in respect of the consummation of an initial Business Combination, two-thirds) of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the Company.
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Note 9 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through July 22, 2025, the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements, other than as disclosed below.
The Company has borrowed an additional $259,000 under the Promissory note subsequent to March 31, 2025.
The Company made $181,537 of payments to vendors subsequent to March 31, 2025.
The Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, for the sum of $0.003 per share.
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20,000,000 Units
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd
Preliminary Prospectus
, 2025
Lead Book-Running Manager
Cohen & Company Capital Markets
Until [_______] 2025 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our Class A 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 underwriter and with respect to its unsold allotments or subscriptions.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount) will be as follows:
| SEC Registration Fees | $ | 55,460 | ||
| FINRA Filing Fees | $ | 35,000 | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | $ | 75,000 | ||
| Printing and engraving expenses | $ | 35,000 | ||
| Nasdaq listing fees | $ | 85,000 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | $ | 200,000 | ||
| Trustee fees and expenses | $ | 40,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous(1) | $ | 251,216 | ||
| Total | $ | 776,676 |
| (1) | This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by the Company in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including transfer agent and trustee fees. |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s amended and restated 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, 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 or willful default. We may 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.
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.
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Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
Our Sponsor has purchased an aggregate of 7,666,667 Class B ordinary shares for an aggregate of $25,000 or $0.003 per share, up to 1,000,000 of which will be surrendered to us for no consideration after the closing of this offering depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised, which will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holders thereof on a one-for-one basis, subject to the adjustments described herein. Our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that will close immediately prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, to transfer 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s director nominees, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 23,000,000 units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full and therefore that such founder shares would represent 25% of the outstanding shares after this offering (excluding any shares underlying the private units). Up to 1,000,000 of these shares will be surrendered for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised.
In addition, the Sponsor and the underwriter in this Offering has committed to purchase an aggregate of up to 775,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering with each private unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share of the Company and one-half of one warrant to purchase one Class A ordinary share of the Company at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Our Sponsor and the underwriter are accredited investors for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. 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 following 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 underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser. |
| (b) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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| (c) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: |
| (1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
| (2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. | |
| (3) | For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 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 of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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| ** | Previously filed |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Ft. Lauderdale, State of Florida on the 30th day of July, 2025.
CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, Ltd | |||
| By: | /s/ Charles T. Cassel III | ||
| Name: | Charles T. Cassel III | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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