Armada Acquisition Corp. II S-1/A, filed May 15, 2025
Armada Acquisition Corp. II (XRPNU)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2025.
Registration No. 333-286110
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Cayman Islands | 6770 | 98-1815892 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1760 Market Street, Suite 602
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
(215)543-6886
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Stephen P. Herbert
Chief Executive Officer
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
1760 Market Street, Suite 602
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
(215)543-6886
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Gerry Williams, Esq. Penny J. Minna, Esq. DLA Piper LLP (US)
Telephone: (404) 580-3000 Facsimile: (404) 580-3001 |
Bradley Kruger Ogier (Cayman) LLP
Telephone: (345) 949-9876 |
Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq. Alexandria E. Kane, Esq Loeb & Loeb LLP.
Telephone: (212) 407-4000 Facsimile: (212) 407-4990 |
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 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Armada Acquisition Corp. II (the “Company”) is filing this Amendment No. 2 (the “Amendment”) to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-286110) (the “Registration Statement”) as an exhibits-only filing. Accordingly, the Amendment consists only of the facing page, this explanatory note, Item 16(a) of Part II of the Registration Statement, the signature page to the Registration Statement and the filed exhibits. The remainder of the Registration Statement is unchanged and has been omitted.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| * | To be filed by amendment |
| ** | As previously filed |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of May, 2025.
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By: | /s/ Stephen P. Herbert | |
| Name: | Stephen P. Herbert | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen Herbert and Douglas Lurio his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including pre- and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name |
Position |
Date | ||
| /s/ Stephen P. Herbert Stephen P. Herbert |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal executive officer) |
May 14, 2025 | ||
| /s/ Douglas M. Lurio Douglas M. Lurio |
President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | May 14, 2025 | ||
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in his capacity as the duly authorized representative of Armada Acquisition Corp. II in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 14, 2025.
| By: | /s/ Douglas M. Lurio | |
| Name: | Douglas M. Lurio | |
| Title: | President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director |
Exhibit 3.2
Companies Act (Revised)
of the Cayman Islands
Company Limited by Shares
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
(Adopted by special resolution passed on [●])
Companies Act (Revised)
of the Cayman Islands
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association
of
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
(Adopted by special resolution passed on [●])
| 1 | The name of the Company is Armada Acquisition Corp. II. |
| 2 | The registered office of the Company shall be at the offices of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman KY1-9009, Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may decide. |
| 3 | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
| 4 | The liability of each Member is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on such Member’s shares. |
| 5 | The share capital of the Company is US$22,100 divided into 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of USD$0.0001 each, and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, provided always that, subject to the Statute and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has the power to do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and |
| (b) | to increase or reduce its capital; and |
| (c) | to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
| (i) | with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
| (ii) | subject to any limitations or restrictions, |
and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or
| (d) | to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
| 6 | The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
| 7 | Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association bear the respective meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company. |
Companies Act (Revised)
of the Cayman Islands
Company Limited by Shares
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
(Adopted by special resolution passed on [●])
CONTENTS
| 1 | Interpretation | 1 | ||
| 2 | Commencement of Business | 8 | ||
| 3 | Issue of Shares and other Securities | 8 | ||
| 4 | Register of Members | 9 | ||
| 5 | Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date | 9 | ||
| 6 | Certificates for Shares | 10 | ||
| 7 | Transfer of Shares | 10 | ||
| 8 | Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares | 11 | ||
| 9 | Treasury Shares | 12 | ||
| 10 | Variation of Rights of Shares | 12 | ||
| 11 | Commission on Sale of Shares | 13 | ||
| 12 | Non-Recognition of Trusts | 13 | ||
| 13 | Lien on Shares | 13 | ||
| 14 | Calls on Shares | 14 | ||
| 15 | Forfeiture of Shares | 14 | ||
| 16 | Transmission of Shares | 15 | ||
| 17 | Class B Share Conversion | 16 | ||
| 18 | Amendments of Memorandum and Articles and Alteration of Capital | 18 | ||
| 19 | Offices and Places of Business | 19 | ||
| 20 | General Meetings | 19 | ||
| 21 | Notice of General Meetings | 19 | ||
| 22 | Advance Notice for Business | 20 | ||
| 23 | Proceedings at General Meetings | 21 | ||
| 24 | Votes of Members | 22 | ||
| 25 | Proxies | 23 | ||
| 26 | Corporate Members | 24 | ||
| 27 | Shares that may not be Voted | 25 | ||
| 28 | Directors | 25 | ||
| 29 | Powers of Directors | 25 | ||
| 30 | Appointment and Removal of Directors | 25 | ||
| 31 | Vacation of Office of Director | 26 | ||
| 32 | Proceedings of Directors | 27 | ||
| 33 | Presumption of Assent | 28 | ||
| 34 | Directors’ Interests | 28 | ||
| 35 | Minutes | 29 | ||
| 36 | Delegation of Directors’ Powers | 29 | ||
| 37 | No Minimum Shareholding | 30 | ||
| 38 | Remuneration of Directors | 30 | ||
| 39 | Seal | 31 | ||
| 40 | Dividends, Distributions and Reserve | 31 | ||
| 41 | Capitalisation | 32 | ||
| 42 | Books of Account | 33 | ||
| 43 | Audit | 33 | ||
| 44 | Notices | 35 | ||
| 45 | Winding Up | 36 | ||
| 46 | Indemnity and Insurance | 36 | ||
| 47 | Financial Year | 37 | ||
| 48 | Transfer by Way of Continuation | 37 | ||
| 49 | Mergers and Consolidations | 38 | ||
| 50 | Business Combination | 38 | ||
| 51 | Certain Tax Filings | 41 | ||
| 52 | Business Opportunities | 41 | ||
| 53 | Exclusive Jurisdiction | 42 | ||
Companies Act (Revised)
of the Cayman Islands
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated Articles of Association
of
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
(Adopted by special resolution passed on [●])
| 1 | Interpretation |
| 1.1 | In the Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith: |
| Affiliate | in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. | |
| Applicable Law | means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person. | |
| Articles | means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company. | |
| Audit Committee | means the audit committee of the board of Directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. | |
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| Auditor | means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). | |
| Business Combination | means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalisation, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses (the target business), which Business Combination: (a) as long as the securities of the Company are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least eighty per cent (80%) of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement to enter into such Business Combination; and (b) must not be solely effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations. | |
| business day | means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City. | |
| Cause | means a conviction for a criminal offence involving dishonesty or engaging in conduct which brings a Director or the Company into disrepute or which results in a material financial detriment to the Company. | |
| Clearing House | means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. | |
| Class A Share | means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
| Class B Share | means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
| Company | means the above named company. | |
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| Company’s Website | means the website of the Company and/or its web-address or domain name, if any. | |
| Compensation Committee | means the compensation committee of the board of Directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. | |
| Completion Window | means the period of time:
(a) commencing on, and including, the closing date of the IPO; and
(b) ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months after the closing date of the IPO, or such earlier date as the Directors may approve in accordance with the Articles or such later date as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles. | |
| Designated Stock Exchange | means any United States national securities exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed for trading, including, but not limited to, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the NYSE MKT LLC, the New York Stock Exchange LLC or any over-the-counter (OTC) market. | |
| Directors | means the directors for the time being of the Company. | |
| Dividend | means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles. | |
| Electronic Communication | means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors. | |
| Electronic Record | has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act. | |
| Electronic Transactions Act | means the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands. | |
| Equity-linked Securities | means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A | |
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| Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. | ||
| Exchange Act | means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. | |
| Founders | means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO. | |
| Independent Director | has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. | |
| IPO | means the Company’s initial public offering of securities. | |
| Member | has the same meaning as in the Statute. | |
| Memorandum | means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company. | |
| Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | means any nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of Directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. | |
| Officer | means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company. | |
| Ordinary Resolution | means a resolution:
(a) passed by a simple majority of such Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of the Company and where a poll is taken regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled; or
(b) approved in writing by all of the Members entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting of the Company (or such lower threshold as may be allowed under the Statute from time to time). | |
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| Ordinary Shares | means the Class A Shares and the Class B Shares, collectively. | |
| Over-Allotment Option | means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 (15%) of the firm units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10.00 per unit, less underwriting discounts and commissions. | |
| Preference Share | means a preference share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
| Public Share | means a Class A Share issued as part of the units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO. | |
| Redemption Notice | means a notice in a form approved by the Directors by which a holder of Public Shares is entitled to require the Company to redeem its Public Shares, subject to any conditions contained therein. | |
| Register of Members | means the Register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate Register of Members. | |
| Registered Office | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. | |
| Representative | means a representative of the Underwriters. | |
| Seal | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. | |
| Securities and Exchange Commission | means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. | |
| Share | means a Class A Share, a Class B Share or a Preference Share and includes a fraction of a share in the Company. | |
| Special Resolution | means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Statute, being a resolution:
(a) passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds, | |
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| other than with respect to amending either of Articles 30.1 or 48.2 (except where such amendment is proposed in respect of the consummation of a Business Combination) where such majority shall be at least ninety per cent (90%), of such Members 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 and where a poll is taken regard shall be had in computing a majority to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled; or
(b) approved in writing by all of the Members entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company (or such lower threshold as may be allowed under the Statute from time to time). | ||
| Sponsor |
means Armada Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors or assigns. | |
| Statute |
means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands. | |
| Tax Filing Authorised Person |
means such person as any Director shall designate from time to time, acting severally. | |
| Treasury Share |
means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute. | |
| Trust Account |
means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of units simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited. | |
| Underwriter |
means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time and any successor underwriter. | |
| 1.2 | In the Articles: |
| (a) | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
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| (b) | words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; |
| (c) | words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person; |
| (d) | “written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| (e) | “shall” shall be construed as imperative and “may” shall be construed as permissive; |
| (f) | references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced; |
| (g) | any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms; |
| (h) | the term “and/or” is used herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires); |
| (i) | headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles; |
| (j) | any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| (k) | any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act; |
| (l) | sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply; |
| (m) | the term “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and |
| (n) | the term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share. |
| 2 | Commencement of Business |
| 2.1 | The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit. |
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| 2.2 | The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
| 3 | Issue of Shares and other Securities |
| 3.1 | Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividends or other distributions, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights, save that the Directors shall not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Share Conversion set out in the Articles. |
| 3.2 | The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
| 3.3 | The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of whole or fractional Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, upon such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another. |
| 3.4 | The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer. |
| 4 | Register of Members |
| 4.1 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. |
| 4.2 | The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Directors may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time. |
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| 5 | Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date |
| 5.1 | For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days. |
| 5.2 | In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose. |
| 5.3 | If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
| 6 | Certificates for Shares |
| 6.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to the Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. |
| 6.2 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
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| 6.3 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
| 6.4 | Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery. |
| 6.5 | Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company. |
| 7 | Transfer of Shares |
| 7.1 | Subject to the terms of the Articles, any Member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options, warrants or units issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such right, option, warrant or unit. |
| 7.2 | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members. |
| 8 | Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares |
| 8.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of such Shares, except Public Shares, shall be effected in |
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| such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of such Shares. With respect to redeeming or repurchasing the Shares: |
| (a) | Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in the Business Combination Article hereof; |
| (b) | Class B Shares held by the Founders shall be surrendered by the Founders on a pro rata basis for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Founders will own twenty five (25%) of the Company’s issued Ordinary Shares after the IPO (inclusive of any Ordinary Shares underlying the units purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and |
| (c) | Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of tender offer in the circumstances set out in the Business Combination Article hereof. |
| 8.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member or in the manner set out in the Business Combination Article hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions, repurchases and surrenders of Shares in the circumstances described in the Article above shall not require further approval of the Members. |
| 8.3 | The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital. |
| 8.4 | The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share. |
| 9 | Treasury Shares |
| 9.1 | The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
| 9.2 | The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration). |
| 10 | Variation of Rights of Shares |
| 10.1 | Subject to Article 3.1, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing |
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| of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued Shares of that class (other than with respect to a waiver of the provisions of the Class B Share Conversion Article hereof, which as stated therein shall only require the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that class), or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one-third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. |
| 10.2 | For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares. |
| 10.3 | The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied: (i) by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith or Shares issued with preferred or other rights; or (ii) where the constitutional documents of the Company are amended or new constitutional documents of the Company are adopted, in each case, as a result of the Company undertaking a transfer by way of continuation to a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 11 | Commission on Sale of Shares |
| The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful. |
| 12 | Non-Recognition of Trusts |
| The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder. |
| 13 | Lien on Shares |
| 13.1 | The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, |
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| liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien thereon. The Company’s lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share. |
| 13.2 | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold. |
| 13.3 | To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company’s power of sale under the Articles. |
| 13.4 | The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale. |
| 14 | Calls on Shares |
| 14.1 | Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen clear days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. |
| 14.2 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. |
| 14.3 | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
| 14.4 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part. |
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| 14.5 | An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
| 14.6 | The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid. |
| 14.7 | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance. |
| 14.8 | No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable. |
| 15 | Forfeiture of Shares |
| 15.1 | If a call or instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
| 15.2 | If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
| 15.3 | A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person. |
| 15.4 | A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by him in respect of those Shares. |
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| 15.5 | A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share. |
| 15.6 | The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
| 16 | Transmission of Shares |
| 16.1 | If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors (where he was a joint holder), or his legal personal representatives (where he was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which he was a joint or sole holder. |
| 16.2 | Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by him to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of such Share. If he elects to have another person registered as the holder of such Share he shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be. |
| 16.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of such Share. However, he shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to have some person nominated by him be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within ninety days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined |
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| pursuant to the Articles), the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
| 17 | Class B Share Conversion |
| 17.1 | The rights attaching to the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects, and the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters (subject to the Variation of Rights of Shares Article, the Appointment and Removal of Directors Article and the Transfer by Way of Continuation Article) with the exception that the holder of a Class B Share shall have the conversion rights referred to in this Article. |
| 17.2 | Class B Shares may be converted into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis at any time and from time to time prior to the consummation of a Business Combination at the option of the holder. |
| 17.3 | Any Class B Shares not converted into Class A Shares pursuant to Article 17.2 above shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis (the Initial Conversion Ratio) concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of a Business Combination. |
| 17.4 | Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, in excess of the amounts issued in the IPO (including pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option) and related to or in connection with the closing of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares at the time of the closing of a Business Combination, the ratio for which the Class B Shares shall convert into Class A Shares will be adjusted so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B Shares will equal, in the aggregate, twenty five (25%) of the sum of: |
| (a) | the total number of all Ordinary Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO (including any Class A Shares issued pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option and any Class A Shares underlying the private placement units purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); plus |
| (b) | all Class A Shares and Equity-linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the closing of a Business Combination, excluding any Shares or Equity-linked Securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and any private placement-equivalent units issued to the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor or to the Company’s officers and Directors upon the conversion of working capital loans made to the Company; minus |
| (c) | the number of Public Shares redeemed in connection with a Business Combination. |
| 17.5 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of |
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| additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in the Variation of Rights of Shares Article hereof. |
| 17.6 | The foregoing conversion ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by share split, subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by reverse share split, share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of Shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class B Shares in issue. |
| 17.7 | Each Class B Share shall convert into its pro-rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro-rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class B Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of one (1) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class B Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class B Shares in issue at the time of conversion. |
| 17.8 | References in this Article to “converted”, “conversion” or “exchange” shall mean the compulsory redemption without notice of Class B Shares of any Member and, on behalf of such Members, automatic application of such redemption proceeds in paying for such new Class A Shares into which the Class B Shares have been converted or exchanged at a price per Class B Share necessary to give effect to a conversion or exchange calculated on the basis that the Class A Shares to be issued as part of the conversion or exchange will be issued at par. The Class A Shares to be issued on an exchange or conversion shall be registered in the name of such Member or in such name as the Member may direct. |
| 17.9 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, in no event shall any Class B Share convert into Class A Shares at a ratio that is less than one for one. |
| 18 | Amendments of Memorandum and Articles and Alteration of Capital |
| 18.1 | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert all or any of its paid-up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up Shares of any denomination; |
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| (d) | by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and |
| (e) | cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the Ordinary Resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled. |
| 18.2 | All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital. |
| 18.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution and Article 48.2, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
| (a) | change its name; |
| (b) | alter or add to the Articles (subject to Article 48.2); |
| (c) | alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and |
| (d) | reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund. |
| 19 | Offices and Places of Business |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.
| 20 | General Meetings |
| 20.1 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
| 20.2 | The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Statute) be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Any annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
| 20.3 | The Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board of Directors may call general meetings and, for the avoidance of doubt, except as expressly provided in Article 20.4 below, Members shall not have the ability to call general meetings. |
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| 20.4 | If at any time there are no Directors, any two (2) Members (or if there is only one (1) Member then that Member) entitled to vote at general meetings of the Company may convene a general meeting in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings may be convened by the Directors. |
| 21 | Notice of General Meetings |
| 21.1 | At least five (5) clear days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
| (a) | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
| (b) | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than ninety-five per cent (95%) in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
| 21.2 | The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting. |
| 22 | Advance Notice for Business |
| 22.1 | Members seeking to bring business before an annual general meeting of the Company, or to nominate candidates for appointment as Directors at an annual general meeting, must provide written notice of such business to the Company. Such notice must be received by the Company by the Company’s secretary (or, if none is appointed, any other Officer) at its principal office no 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 the annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. |
| 22.2 | To be in proper written form, a Member’s notice to the Company’s secretary (or, if none is appointed, any other Officer) with respect to any business (other than nominations) must set forth as to each such matter such Member proposes to bring before the annual general meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual general meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event such business includes a proposal to amend these Articles, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual general meeting, (ii) the name and record address of such Member and the name |
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| and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iii) the class and number of Shares that are owned beneficially and of record by such Member and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such Member and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Member, (v) any material interest of such Member and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business and (vi) a representation that such Member intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual general meeting to bring such business before the annual general meeting. |
| 23 | Proceedings at General Meetings |
| 23.1 | No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. The holders of at least one-third of the Shares being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum. |
| 23.2 | A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
| 23.3 | A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of all of the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations or other non-natural persons, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
| 23.4 | If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence or if during such a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and/or place or to such other day, time and/or place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall be a quorum. |
| 23.5 | The Directors may, at any time prior to the time appointed for the meeting to commence, appoint any person to act as chairman of a general meeting of the Company or, if the Directors do not make any such appointment, the chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at such general meeting. If there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. The chairman from time to time may adopt certain rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings as he or she sees fit. |
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| 23.6 | If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 23.7 | The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. |
| 23.8 | When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting. |
| 23.9 | If, prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the Directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting. |
| 23.10 | When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The Directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed. |
| 23.11 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
| 23.12 | A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
| 23.13 | A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such date, time and place as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll. |
| 23.14 | In the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
| 24 | Votes of Members |
| 24.1 | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, including as set out at Articles 30.1 and 48, every Member present in any such manner shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder. |
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| 24.2 | In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy), shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members. |
| 24.3 | A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Member’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy. |
| 24.4 | No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid. |
| 24.5 | No objection shall be raised as to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
| 24.6 | Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy). A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes. |
| 24.7 | A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed. |
| 25 | Proxies |
| 25.1 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member. |
| 25.2 | The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the |
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| time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office on a business day not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote. For the purposes of this Article, business day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in the location of the Registered Office. |
| 25.3 | The chairman may in any event at his discretion declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the chairman, shall be invalid. |
| 25.4 | The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll. |
| 25.5 | Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office on a business day before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy. For the purposes of this Article, business day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in the location of the Registered Office. |
| 26 | Corporate Members |
| 26.1 | Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member. |
| 26.2 | If a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)). |
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| 27 | Shares that may not be Voted |
Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.
| 28 | Directors |
There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person provided however that, subject to the requirement to have at least one Director, the Directors may from time to time fix the maximum and minimum number of Directors to be appointed by resolution of the board of Directors.
| 29 | Powers of Directors |
| 29.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
| 29.2 | All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution. |
| 29.3 | The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
| 29.4 | The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
| 30 | Appointment and Removal of Directors |
| 30.1 | Subject to Article 28, prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares appoint any person to be a Director |
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| or may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares remove any Director. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the closing of a Business Combination, holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any Director. |
| 30.2 | Subject to Article 28, the Directors may appoint any person to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director. |
| 30.3 | Subject to Article 28, after the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director. |
| 30.4 | The Directors shall be divided into three (3) classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the board of Directors. At the first annual general meeting of the Company, the term of office of the Class I Directors shall expire and Class I Directors shall be elected for a full term of three (3) years. At the second annual general meeting of the Company, the term of office of the Class II Directors shall expire and Class II Directors shall be elected for a full term of three (3) years. At the third annual general meeting of the Company, the term of office of the Class III Directors shall expire and Class III Directors shall be elected for a full term of three (3) years. At each succeeding annual general meeting of the Company, Directors shall be elected for a full term of three (3) years to succeed the Directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, each Director shall hold office until the expiration of his term, until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. |
| 31 | Vacation of Office of Director |
| 31.1 | The office of a Director shall be vacated if: |
| (a) | the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or |
| (b) | the Director absents himself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; or |
| (c) | the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (d) | the Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or |
| (e) | all of the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a Director for Cause (and not otherwise), either by a resolution passed |
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| by all of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other Directors. |
| 32 | Proceedings of Directors |
| 32.1 | The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be two if there are two or more Directors, and shall be one if there is only one Director. |
| 32.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. |
| 32.3 | A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any committee of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is located at the start of the meeting. |
| 32.4 | A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Directors or, in the case of a resolution in writing relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office by any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held. |
| 32.5 | A Director may, or other Officer on the direction of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two (2) days’ notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. To any such notice of a meeting of the Directors all the provisions of the Articles relating to the giving of notices by the Company to the Members shall apply mutatis mutandis. |
| 32.6 | The continuing Directors (or a sole continuing Director, as the case may be) may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to be equal to such fixed number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
| 32.7 | The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
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| 32.8 | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director, and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, and/or had vacated their office and/or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and/or not disqualified to be a Director and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be. |
| 32.9 | A Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director. |
| 33 | Presumption of Assent |
| A Director who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action. |
| 34 | Directors’ Interests |
| 34.1 | A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine. |
| 34.2 | A Director may act by himself or by, through or on behalf of his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director. |
| 34.3 | A Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company. |
| 34.4 | No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. |
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| 34.5 | A general notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
| 35 | Minutes |
| The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording all appointments of Officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Directors, including the names of the Directors present at each meeting. |
| 36 | Delegation of Directors’ Powers |
| 36.1 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committee consisting of one or more Directors (including, without limitation and as applicable, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, if established). Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such delegation may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
| 36.2 | The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees, local boards or agencies. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such appointment may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
| 36.3 | The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall |
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| from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, if established, shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
| 36.4 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time. |
| 36.5 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under the Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. |
| 36.6 | The Directors may appoint such Officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an Officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. An Officer may vacate his office at any time if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns his office. |
| 37 | No Minimum Shareholding |
The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director, but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares.
| 38 | Remuneration of Directors |
| 38.1 | The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine. The Directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in |
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| connection with the business of the Company or the discharge of their duties as a Director, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
| 38.2 | The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel, attorney or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director. |
| 39 | Seal |
| 39.1 | The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some Officer or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose. |
| 39.2 | The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
| 39.3 | A Director or Officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever. |
| 40 | Dividends, Distributions and Reserve |
| 40.1 | Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve to pay Dividends and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the Dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. A Dividend shall be deemed to be an interim Dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such Dividend specifically state that such Dividend shall be a final Dividend. No Dividend or other distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law. |
| 40.2 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all Dividends and other distributions shall be paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly. |
| 40.3 | The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or other distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
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| 40.4 | The Directors may resolve that any Dividend or other distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular (but without limitation) by the distribution of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees in such manner as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
| 40.5 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, Dividends and other distributions may be paid in any currency. The Directors may determine the basis of conversion for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met. |
| 40.6 | The Directors may, before resolving to pay any Dividend or other distribution, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the discretion of the Directors, be employed in the business of the Company. |
| 40.7 | Any Dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any Dividends, other distributions, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. |
| 40.8 | No Dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
| 40.9 | Any Dividend or other distribution which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the Dividend or other distribution shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any Dividend or other distribution which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
| 41 | Capitalisation |
The Directors may at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts or funds (including the share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or
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otherwise available for distribution; appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst such Members had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend or other distribution; and apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit in the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental or relating thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.
| 42 | Books of Account |
| 42.1 | The Directors shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices) to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions. |
| 42.2 | The Directors shall determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting. |
| 42.3 | The Directors may cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law. |
| 43 | Audit |
| 43.1 | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
| 43.2 | Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit |
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| Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
| 43.3 | If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
| 43.4 | The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
| 43.5 | If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
| 43.6 | Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
| 43.7 | Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
| 43.8 | Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the Directors, with any Director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval. |
| 43.9 | The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO. |
| 43.10 | At least one (1) member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as determined by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The “audit committee financial expert” shall have such past |
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| employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication. |
| 44 | Notices |
| 44.1 | Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Notice may also be served by Electronic Communication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Company’s Website. |
| 44.2 | Where a notice is sent by: |
| (a) | courier; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier; |
| (b) | post; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays in the Cayman Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted; |
| (c) | cable, telex or fax; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted; |
| (d) | e-mail or other Electronic Communication; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient; and |
| (e) | placing it on the Company’s Website; service of the notice shall be deemed to have been effected one hour after the notice or document was placed on the Company’s Website. |
| 44.3 | A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under the Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
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| 44.4 | Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner authorised by the Articles to every holder of Shares carrying an entitlement to receive such notice on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
| 45 | Winding Up |
| 45.1 | If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors’ claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up: |
| (a) | if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them; or |
| (b) | if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. |
| 45.2 | If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the approval of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other approval required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like approval, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like approval, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
| 46 | Indemnity and Insurance |
| 46.1 | Every Director and Officer (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former Officer (each an Indemnified Person) shall to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law be indemnified out of the |
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| assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. |
| 46.2 | Each Member specifically agrees to waive any claim or right of action such Member might have, whether individually or by, or in, the right of the Company, against any Director or Officer in connection with new or competing merger bids or proposals which are proffered to the Board at any time after the execution of a definitive agreement concerning a Business Combination provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty in relation to the Company which may attach to such Director or Officer. |
| 46.3 | The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person. |
| 46.4 | The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or other Officer against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company. |
| 47 | Financial Year |
| Unless | the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year. |
| 48 | Transfer by Way of Continuation |
| 48.1 | If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution passed in accordance with this Article 48, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
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| 48.2 | Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, only the Class B Shares shall carry the right to vote on any resolution of the shareholders to approve any transfer by way of continuation pursuant to this Article (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). |
| 49 | Mergers and Consolidations |
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.
| 50 | Business Combination |
| 50.1 | Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, this Article shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of the Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of a Business Combination and the full distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In the event of a conflict between this Article and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article shall prevail. |
| 50.2 | Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall either: |
| (a) | submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or |
| (b) | provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then issued Public Shares. |
| 50.3 | If the Company initiates any tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file tender offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and file proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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| 50.4 | At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination. |
| 50.5 | Any Member holding Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director may, in connection with any vote on a proposed Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash in accordance with any applicable requirements provided for in the related proxy materials (the IPO Redemption), including, without limitation, such requirements with respect to the deadline for making such election (the Election Deadline), provided that (a) no such Member, together with any Affiliate of such Member or any other person with whom such Member is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than fifteen per cent (15%) of the Public Shares in the aggregate without the prior consent of the Company and (b) if the Company requires in its sole discretion, any holder that holds Public Shares beneficially through a nominee must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the board of Directors may, at any time and either before or after the initially scheduled vote on a Business Combination, in its sole discretion extend the Election Deadline to a later date and may extend an Election Deadline which has already been extended. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is abstaining from voting on or voting for or against such proposed Business Combination, a per-Share redemption price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued Public Shares (such redemption price being referred to herein as the Redemption Price), subject to Applicable Law, but only in the event that the applicable proposed Business Combination is approved and consummated. |
| 50.6 | A Member may not withdraw a Redemption Notice once submitted to the Company unless the Directors determine (in their sole discretion) to permit the withdrawal of such redemption request (which they may do in whole or in part). |
| 50.7 | In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within the Completion Window, the Company shall: |
| (a) | cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; |
| (b) | as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds, 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 Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any) subject to applicable law; and |
38
| (c) | as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the Directors, liquidate and dissolve, |
subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law.
| 50.8 | In the event that any amendment is made to the Articles: |
| (a) | to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem one hundred per cent (100%) of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within the Completion Window; or |
| (b) | with respect to any other material provisions relating to (i) the rights of holders of Class A Shares; or (ii) pre-initial Business Combination activity, |
each holder of Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the effectiveness of any such amendment at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue, subject to Applicable Law.
| 50.9 | Except for any amounts withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes, none of the funds in the Trust Account shall be released from the Trust Account until the earlier of: (i) an IPO Redemption pursuant to Article 50.5; (ii) a repurchase of Shares by means of a tender offer pursuant to Article 50.2(b); (iii) a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article 50.7; or (iv) an amendment under Article 50.8. A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of (i) to (iv) under this Article 50.9. In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. |
| 50.10 | Except in connection with the conversion of Class B Shares into Class A Shares pursuant to Article 17 where the holders of such Shares have waived any right to receive funds from the Trust Account, after the issue of Public Shares, and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to: |
| (a) | receive funds from the Trust Account; or |
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| (b) | vote as a class with Public Shares on any Business Combination or any other proposal presented to our shareholders prior to or in connection with the completion of a Business Combination. |
| 50.11 | A Director may vote in respect of a Business Combination in which such Director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such Director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other Directors. |
| 50.12 | The Company shall not enter into an initial Business Combination solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
| 50.13 | The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is an Affiliate of the Sponsor, an Officer or a Director. In the event the Company seeks to complete a Business Combination with a target business that (i) is an Affiliate of the Sponsor, an Officer or a Director, or (ii) the board of Directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of such target business, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, shall 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 the Company in such a Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. |
| 51 | Certain Tax Filings |
| Each Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any Director shall designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9, 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may be approved from time to time by any Director or Officer. The Company further ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other person prior to the date of the Articles. |
| 52 | Business Opportunities |
| 52.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, none of the Sponsor or any individual serving as a Director or an Officer (Management) shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which (a) may be a corporate opportunity for Management, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other or (b) the presentation of which would breach an existing legal obligation of a member of Management to any other entity. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, Management shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a |
40
| Member, Director and/or Officer solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company. |
| 52.2 | Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and Management, about which a Director and/or Officer who is also a member of Management acquires knowledge. |
| 52.3 | To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
| 52.4 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, such renouncement shall not apply to any business opportunity that is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer of the Company and it is an opportunity the Company is able to complete on a reasonable basis. |
| 53 | Exclusive Jurisdiction |
| 53.1 | Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the Memorandum, the Articles or otherwise related in any way to each Member’s shareholding in the Company, including but not limited to: |
| (a) | any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company; |
| (b) | any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any current or former Director, Officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Members; |
| (c) | any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Statute, the Memorandum or the Articles; or |
| (d) | any action asserting a claim against the Company governed by the “Internal Affairs Doctrine” (as such concept is recognised under the laws of the United States of America). |
| 53.2 | Each Member irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes. |
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| 53.3 | Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have, each Member acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly the Company shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum. |
| 53.4 | This Article 53 shall not apply to any action or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the 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, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim. |
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Exhibit 4.1
NUMBER U-
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP G0R38G 120
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE AND ONE-HALF OF ONE
REDEEMABLE WARRANT, EACH WHOLE WARRANT ENTITLING THE HOLDER TO PURCHASE
ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE
THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of Units.
Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) share of Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), of Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and one-half of one (1/2) redeemable warrant (“Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Ordinary Shares for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). The Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) the date which the Company completes a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”) and (b) 12 months after the closing of this offering. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of the Company’s completion of an initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate will begin separate trading on , 2025 unless Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC and Northland Securities, Inc. elect to allow separate trading earlier, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of its initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of , 2025, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company. Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
| By: |
| |||
| President | Secretary |
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
The Company will furnish without charge to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | – | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT |
– | Custodian | |||||||||
| TEN ENT | – | as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) |
(Minor) | ||||||||||
| JT TEN | – | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | |||||||||||
| (State) | ||||||||||||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
| (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) |
represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated | Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
2
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15, OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE). |
The holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of the funds from the trust account with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying this certificate only in the event that (i) the Company is forced to liquidate because it does not consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Memorandum and Articles”) (such date being referred to herein as the “Last Date”), (ii) the Company redeems the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Memorandum and Articles (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering, if it does not consummate an initial business combination by the Last Date or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder seeks to redeem his shares upon consummation of, or sell his shares in a tender offer in connection with, an initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to the Memorandum and Articles. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
3
Exhibit 4.2
| SHARES CUSIP G0R38G 104 |
NUMBER C-
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES
THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of
FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE OF $0.0001 (the “Ordinary Shares”) EACH OF ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II (the “Company”), transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.
The Company will be forced to liquidate if it is unable to complete an initial business combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Memorandum and Articles”).
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.
Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
Dated:
President |
Secretary |
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
The Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of equity or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of securities (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | – | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT |
– | Custodian | |||||||||
| TEN ENT | – | as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) |
(Minor) | ||||||||||
| JT TEN | – | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | |||||||||||
| (State) | ||||||||||||||
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
For value received, hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S)
| (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) |
represented by the within Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
to transfer the said shares of Ordinary Shares on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated: | Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15, OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE). |
The holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of the funds from the trust account only in the event that (i) the Company is forced to liquidate because it does not consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles (such date being referred to herein as the “Last Date”), (ii) the Company redeems the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Memorandum and Articles (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering, if it does not consummate an initial business combination by the Last Date or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder seeks to redeem his shares upon consummation of, or sell his shares in a tender offer in connection with, an initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to the Memorandum and Articles. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
Exhibit 4.3
| NUMBER | (SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR LEGEND) | WARRANTS |
THIS WARRANT WILL BE VOID IF
NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE (DEFINED
BELOW)
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
CUSIP G0R38G 112
WARRANT
THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received , is the registered holder of a warrant or warrants (the “Warrant(s)”) of Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), expiring at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of the Company’s completion of an initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), or earlier upon redemption, to purchase one fully paid and non-assessable share of Class A Ordinary Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), of the Company for each Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate.
The Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase from the Company, commencing on the later of the date which the Company completes an initial Business Combination and 12 months after the closing of the offering, such number of Ordinary Shares of the Company at the Warrant Price (as defined below), upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Warrant Price at the office or agency of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Warrant Agent”), but only subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any warrant exercise. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Warrant Certificate refers to the price per Ordinary Share at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time the Warrant is exercised. The initial Warrant Price per Share is equal to $11.50 per share. The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the Warrant Price, the Redemption Trigger Price (defined below) and the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, set forth on the face hereof, may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted.
No fraction of an Ordinary Share will be issued upon any exercise of a Warrant. If the holder of a Warrant would be entitled to receive a fraction of an Ordinary Share upon any exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent by the registered holder in person or by attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Warrant Certificate at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent, a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any applicable tax or other governmental charge.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered holder as the absolute owner of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the registered holder, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
This Warrant does not entitle the registered holder to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company.
The Company reserves the right to call the Warrant at any time prior to its exercise with a notice of redemption which shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date to the registered holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. The Company reserves the right to call the Warrant at any time while the Warrant is exercisable, if the last sale price of the Shares has been at least $18.00 per share (the “Redemption Trigger Price”) on each of 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period (the “30-day trading period”) commencing after the Warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given if, and only if, there is an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day redemption or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis. The call price of the Warrants is to be $0.01 per Warrant.
| By: |
||||
| President |
Secretary |
SUBSCRIPTION FORM
To Be Executed by the Registered Holder in Order to Exercise Warrants
The undersigned Registered Holder irrevocably elects to exercise Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and to purchase the Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Warrants, and requests that Certificates for such shares shall be issued in the name of
(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS)
(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
| and be delivered to |
| |
| (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS) |
and, if such number of Warrants shall not be all the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, that a new Warrant Certificate for the balance of such Warrants be registered in the name of, and delivered to, the Registered Holder at the address stated below:
| Dated: |
| |
| (SIGNATURE) | ||
|
| ||
| (ADDRESS) | ||
| (TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER) |
ASSIGNMENT
To Be Executed by the Registered Holder in Order to Assign Warrants
| For Value Received, hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto |
| (PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS) |
|
|
|
|
(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
| and be delivered to |
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS)
of the Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer this Warrant Certificate on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated: |
| |
| (SIGNATURE) |
THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE NAME WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER, AND MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY OR A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NYSE AMERICAN, NASDAQ, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE, OR CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE.
Exhibit 5.1
|
|
DLA Piper LLP (US) One Atlantic Center 1201 West Peachtree Street Suite 2800 Atlanta, GA 30309-3450 www.dlapiper.com |
May 14, 2025
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
1760 Market Street, Suite 602
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333- 333-286110)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as United States counsel to Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), in connection with the registration by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of up to 20,000,000 units of the Company, or 23,000,000 units of the Company (collectively the “Public Units”) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option provided for in the form of underwriting agreement between the Company and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”) that is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement (as defined below) is fully exercised, with each Public Unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (each, an “Ordinary Share”), of the Company, and one-half redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”), with each whole Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-286110) initially filed by the Company with the Commission on March 26, 2025 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus, or any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) with respect thereto, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Public Units and the Public Warrants.
In connection with our opinion expressed below, we have examined such documents and considered such legal matters as we have deemed necessary and relevant as the basis for the opinion set forth below, including the following documents:
(i) the form of Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company that is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement; (ii) the Registration Statement; (iii) the Underwriting Agreement; (iv) the Specimen Unit Certificate that is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement; (v) the Specimen Warrant Certificate that is filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement; and (vi) the form of warrant agreement proposed to be entered into by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”) that is filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Public Warrants will be issued (the “Warrant Agreement”). With respect to our examination of such documents, we have assumed, without independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as reproduced or certified copies, and the authenticity and completeness of the originals of those latter documents. We have also assumed that (1) upon sale and delivery of the Public Units and the Public Warrants, the certificates representing such Public Units and Public Warrants will
conform to the specimens thereof filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and will have been duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent and duly registered by the registrar, and (2) at the time of execution, countersigning, issuance, and delivery of the Public Units and the Public Warrants, the Warrant Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of the Warrant Agent, enforceable against the Warrant Agent in accordance with its terms. We have also assumed that the Warrant Agent has the power and authority and the due authorization (corporate, trust, partnership or other) to enter into and perform all its obligations under the Warrant Agreement. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, to the extent deemed appropriate, relied upon representations of certain officers of the Company. We have further assumed that each of the documents identified in clauses (i) through (vi) above will be entered into, adopted or filed as appropriate. Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications, and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that when the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act:
1. Public Units. The Public Units, when delivered to and paid for by the underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Warrant Agent, as transfer agent, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
2. Public Warrants. The Public Warrants that are part of the Public Units, when the Public Units are delivered to and paid for by the underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of such Public Warrants by the Warrant Agent, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
The opinions expressed above are limited to the internal laws of the State of New York (excluding those of counties, cities, municipalities and other local subdivisions). We do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign. We understand that various matters concerning the laws of the Cayman Islands with respect to the Public Units, the Public Warrants and the Ordinary Shares are addressed in the opinion of Ogier (Cayman) LLP, which has been separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters herein, and, to the extent such matters are necessary to the conclusions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, assumed without independent verification or investigation as to all such matters.
The opinions in regard the legal and binding obligations of the Company and to enforceability expressed in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this letter are subject to, and qualified and limited by, (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, including, without limitation, New York Debtor and Creditor Law and other laws regarding fraudulent conveyances and preferential transfers; (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; and (iv) we express no opinion as to any provision of the Public Units or the Public Warrants that: (a) any provision for liquidated damages, monetary penalties or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies, or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (f) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (g) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (h) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (i) proxies, powers and trusts, (j) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (k) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (l) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect. The opinions expressed herein are subject to the effect of judicial decisions which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.
With your consent, we have assumed:
(a) the Warrant Agreement will be duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto;
(b) the Company (i) is duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has requisite legal status and legal capacity under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (iii) has complied and will comply with all aspects of the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement;
(c) each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement constitutes or will constitute a legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms;
(d) neither (i) the execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement or the Warrant Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder nor (ii) the issuance and sale of the Public Units or Public Warrants: (i) conflicts or will conflict with the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, (ii) constitutes or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Company or its property is subject, (iii) contravenes or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or its property is subject, or (iv) violates or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to the laws of the State of New York); and
(e) that the status of the Public Units and Public Warrants as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties will not be affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, other agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or to make required registrations, declarations or filings with, any governmental authorities.
We have also assumed that the laws of the Cayman Islands would not impose any requirements or have any consequences relevant to our understanding of such matters that would impact our conclusions with respect thereto.
This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinions expressly set forth herein. We have made no inquiry into the laws and regulations or as to laws relating to choice of law or conflicts of law principles. Our opinion is based on these laws as in effect on the date hereof and as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the effective date of the Registration Statement should the law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision, or otherwise. We express no opinion as to whether the laws of any other jurisdiction are applicable to the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any other federal or state law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as your counsel and to all references made to us in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or Item 509 of Regulation S-K.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ DLA PIPER LLP (US) |
Exhibit 5.2
| Armada Acquisition Corp. II 89 Nexus Way Camana Bay Grand Cayman Cayman Islands KY1-9009 |
D +1 345 815 1877 E bradley.kruger@ogier.com
Reference: 510935.00001 |
| May 14, 2025 |
Armada Acquisition Corp. II (the Company)
We have been requested to provide you with an opinion on matters of Cayman Islands law in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), as amended, (including its exhibits, the Registration Statement) related to the offering and sale of:
| (a) | up to 20,000,000 units (the Units), each Unit consisting of one class A ordinary share of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 each (the Class A Ordinary Shares) and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share (the Warrants); |
| (b) | up to 3,000,000 Units (the Over-Allotment Units) which Cohen and Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, and Northland Securities, Inc. (together, the Representatives) will have a right to purchase from the Company to cover over-allotments, if any; |
| (c) | all Class A Ordinary Shares and all Warrants issued as part of the Units and the Over-Allotment Units; and |
| (d) | all Class A Ordinary Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units and the Over-Allotment Units. |
| Ogier (Cayman) LLP 89 Nexus Way Camana Bay Grand Cayman, KY1-9009 Cayman Islands
T +1 345 949 9876 F +1 305 513 5888 ogier.com |
A list of Partners may be inspected on our website |
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
This opinion is given in accordance with the terms of the Legal Matters section of the Registration Statement.
Unless a contrary intention appears, all capitalised terms used in this opinion have the respective meanings set forth in Schedule 1. A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this opinion and the headings herein are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this opinion.
| 1 | Documents examined |
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the corporate and other documents and conducted the searches listed in Schedule 1. We have not made any searches or enquiries concerning, and have not examined any documents entered into by or affecting the Company or any other person, save for the searches, enquiries and examinations expressly referred to in Schedule 1.
| 2 | Assumptions |
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set forth in Schedule 2 without having carried out any independent investigation or verification in respect of those assumptions.
| 3 | Opinions |
On the basis of the examinations and assumptions referred to above and subject to the qualifications set forth in Schedule 3 and the limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
Corporate status
| (a) | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands (the Registrar). |
Corporate power
| (b) | The Company has under its Memorandum and Articles of Association and will have under the A&R M&A, all requisite power to issue the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents), to execute and deliver the Documents and to perform its obligations, and exercise its rights, under such documents. |
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Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
Corporate authorisation
| (c) | The Company has taken all requisite corporate action to authorise: |
| (i) | the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents); and |
| (ii) | the execution and delivery of the Documents and the performance of its obligations, and the exercise of its rights, under such documents. |
Shares
| (d) | The Class A Ordinary Shares to be offered and issued by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents), when issued by the Company upon: |
| (i) | payment in full of the consideration as set out in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms set out in the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents) and in accordance with the A&R M&A; and |
| (ii) | the entry of those Class A Ordinary Shares as fully paid on the register of members of the Company, |
shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
| 4 | Matters not covered |
We offer no opinion:
| (a) | as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction, and we express no opinion as to the meaning, validity, or effect of references in the Documents to statutes, rules, regulations, codes or judicial authority of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | except to the extent that this opinion expressly provides otherwise, as to the commercial terms of, or the validity, enforceability or effect of the documents reviewed (or as to how the commercial terms of such documents reflect the intentions of the parties), the accuracy of representations, the fulfilment of warranties or conditions, the occurrence of events of default or terminating events or the existence of any conflicts or inconsistencies among the documents and any other agreements into which the Company may have entered or any other documents; or |
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Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
| (c) | as to whether the acceptance, execution or performance of the Company’s obligations under the documents reviewed by us listed in Schedule 1 will result in the breach of or infringe any other agreement, deed or document (other than, to the extent expressly provided herein, the Memorandum and Articles of Association or the A&R M&A) entered into by or binding on the Company. |
| 5 | Governing law of this opinion |
| 5.1 | This opinion is: |
| (a) | governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | limited to the matters expressly stated in it; and |
| (c) | confined to, and given on the basis of, the laws and practice in the Cayman Islands at the date of this opinion. |
| 5.2 | Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to any specific Cayman Islands legislation is a reference to that legislation as amended to, and as in force at, the date of this opinion. |
| 6 | Consent |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and also consent to the reference to this firm in the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters”. In the giving of our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Ogier (Cayman) LLP
Ogier (Cayman) LLP
4
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
SCHEDULE 1
Documents examined and searches conducted
| 1 | The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated 3 October 2024 issued by the Registrar. |
| 2 | The memorandum of association of the Company dated 3 October 2024 (the Memorandum). |
| 3 | The articles of association of the Company dated 3 October 2024 (the Articles of Association). |
| 4 | The draft amended and restated articles of association appended to the Registration Statement (A&R M&A). |
| 5 | A Certificate of Good Standing dated May 14, 2025 (the Good Standing Certificate) issued by the Registrar in respect of the Company. |
| 6 | A certificate dated on the date hereof as to certain matters of fact signed by a director of the Company in the form annexed hereto (the Director’s Certificate), having attached to it a copy of the written resolutions of the directors of the Company passed on 7 November 2024, 15 November 2024 and May 14, 2025 (the Resolutions). |
| 7 | The Register of Writs maintained by the office of the Clerk of Courts in the Cayman Islands as inspected by us on May 14, 2025 (the Register of Writs). |
| 8 | The Registration Statement. |
| 9 | A draft of the form of the unit certificate representing the Units and the Over-Allotment Units (the Unit Certificates). |
| 10 | A draft specimen certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares (the Share Certificates). |
| 11 | A draft of the form of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate constituting the Warrants (the Warrant Documents and, together with the Unit Certificates and the Share Certificates, the Documents). |
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Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
SCHEDULE 2
Assumptions
Assumptions of general application
| 1 | All original documents examined by us are authentic and complete. |
| 2 | All copy documents examined by us (whether in facsimile, electronic or other form) conform to the originals and those originals are authentic and complete. |
| 3 | All signatures, seals, dates, stamps and markings (whether on original or copy documents) are genuine. |
| 4 | Each of the Good Standing Certificate and the Director’s Certificate is accurate and complete as at the date of this opinion. |
| 5 | Where any Document has been provided to us in draft or undated form, that Document has been, or will be, executed by all parties in materially the form provided to us and, where we have been provided with successive drafts of a Document marked to show changes from a previous draft, all such changes have been accurately marked. |
| 6 | There will be no intervening circumstance relevant to this opinion between the date hereof and the date upon which the Class A Ordinary Shares are issued. |
| 7 | There is nothing in any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) that would or might affect the opinions herein. |
Status, authorisation and execution
| 8 | Each of the parties to the Documents other than the Company is duly incorporated, formed or organised (as applicable), validly existing and in good standing under all relevant laws. |
| 9 | Each Document has been duly authorised, executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all parties to it (other than the Company) in accordance with all applicable laws. |
| 10 | In authorising the execution and delivery of the Documents by the Company, the issue and allotment of the Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants, and the exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations under the Documents, each of the directors of the Company has acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and has exercised the standard of care, diligence and skill that is required of him or her. |
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Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
| 11 | The persons named in the Resolutions as authorised to execute any Documents on behalf of the Company which have not been executed as of the date hereof, will in fact execute such documents with the intention to bind the Company. |
Enforceability
| 12 | None of the opinions expressed herein will be adversely affected by the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. In particular, but without limitation to the previous sentence: |
| (a) | the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands will not adversely affect the capacity or authority of the Company; and |
| (b) | neither the execution or delivery of the Documents nor the exercise by any party to the Documents of its rights or the performance of its obligations under them contravene those laws or public policies. |
Share Issuance
| 13 | The Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued after the date of this opinion shall be issued at an issue price in excess of the par value thereof. |
| 14 | The A&R M&A will be adopted by the Company in accordance with the Articles of Association prior to the date that any Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Warrants, or Over-Allotment Units are issued by the Company. |
Register of Writs
| 15 | The Register of Writs constitutes a complete and accurate record of the proceedings affecting the Company before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands as at the time we conducted our investigation of such register. |
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Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
SCHEDULE 3
Qualifications
Good Standing
| 1 | Under the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (Companies Act) annual returns in respect of the Company must be filed with the Registrar, together with payment of annual filing fees. A failure to file annual returns and pay annual filing fees may result in the Company being struck off the Register of Companies, following which its assets will vest in the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands and will be subject to disposition or retention for the benefit of the public of the Cayman Islands. |
| 2 | In good standing means only that as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate the Company is up-to-date with the filing of its annual returns and payment of annual fees with the Registrar. We have made no enquiries into the Company’s good standing with respect to any filings or payment of fees, or both, that it may be required to make under the laws of the Cayman Islands other than the Companies Act. |
Limited Liability
| 3 | We are not aware of any Cayman Islands authority as to when the courts would set aside the limited liability of a shareholder in a Cayman Islands company. Our opinion on the subject is based on the Companies Act and English common law authorities, the latter of which are persuasive but not binding in the courts of the Cayman Islands. Under English authorities, circumstances in which a court would attribute personal liability to a shareholder are very limited, and include: (a) such shareholder expressly assuming direct liability (such as a guarantee); (b) the company acting as the agent of such shareholder; and (c) the company being incorporated by or at the behest of such shareholder for the purpose of committing or furthering such shareholder’s fraud, or for a sham transaction otherwise carried out by such shareholder. In the absence of these circumstances, we are of the opinion that a Cayman Islands’ court would have no grounds to set aside the limited liability of a shareholder. |
Non-Assessable
| 4 | In this opinion, the phrase “non-assessable” means, with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares in the Company, that a shareholder shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on the Class A Ordinary Shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil). |
Register of Writs
| 5 | Our examination of the Register of Writs cannot conclusively reveal whether or not there is: |
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Armada Acquisition Corp. II
May 14, 2025
| (a) | any current or pending litigation in the Cayman Islands against the Company; or |
| (b) | any application for the winding up or dissolution of the Company or the appointment of any liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy or restructuring officer in respect of the Company or any of its assets, |
as notice of these matters might not be entered on the Register of Writs immediately or updated expeditiously or the court file associated with the matter or the matter itself may not be publicly available (for example, due to sealing orders having been made). Furthermore, we have not conducted a search of the summary court. Claims in the summary court are limited to a maximum of CI $20,000.
9
Exhibit 10.4
PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the [x] day of [x] 2025, by and between Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 1760 Market Street, Suite 602, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, and Cohen and Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC (the “Purchaser”)
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell to the Purchaser on a private placement basis (the “Offering”) an aggregate of [x] units (the “Initial Units”) of the Company, each Initial Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrants”) to purchase one Class A ordinary share (the “Warrant Shares”) to be governed by the Warrant Agreement (as defined herein), for an aggregate purchase price of $[x], or $10.00 per Initial Unit and up to [x] additional units (“the Additional Units” and together with the Initial Units, the “Units”), each Additional Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one Warrant, for a purchase price of $[x], or $10.00 per Additional Unit. As provided in the Registration Statement (as defined below), the Warrants are exercisable during the period commencing on the later of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below) and 12 months after the closing of the IPO (as defined below) and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination (provided that so long as the Private Warrants are held by the Purchaser or its designees, the Purchaser or its designees will not be permitted to exercise such Warrants after the five year anniversary of the commencement of sales in the IPO in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)).
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase the Units on the terms and conditions set forth herein and the Company wishes to accept such subscription.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1 Agreement to Subscribe
1.1 Purchase and Issuance of the Initial Units. For the aggregate sum of $[x] (the “Purchase Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) [x] Initial Units at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase up to an additional [x] Additional Units at $10.00 per Additional Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $[x] (the “Additional Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The purchase and issuance of the Additional Units shall occur only in the event that the underwriters’ 45-day over-allotment option (“Over-Allotment Option”) in the IPO is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is exercised. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.2 Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the Offering shall take place by electronic exchange of executed documents simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) and the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option, as applicable (each a “Closing Date”).
1.3 Delivery of the Purchase Price. The Initial Purchase Price or the Additional Purchase Price, as applicable, shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the trust account (the “Trust Account”) at a financial institution chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (“Continental”), as trustee, on or prior to each Closing Date.
1.4 Delivery of the Units. Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive the Units purchased hereunder.
2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser
The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. It understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, or the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Units (excluding the Warrant Shares, the “Unit Shares” and, collectively with the Units, the Warrants, and the Warrant Shares, the “Securities”).
2.2 Organization. It is a company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3 Private Offering. It is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or it is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. It acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “Accredited Investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and similar exemptions under state law or a non-U.S. Person under Regulation S.
2.4 Authority. This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
2.6 No Legal Advice from Company. It acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, it is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
2.7 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, it has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. It understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.8 Reliance on Representations and Warranties. It understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9 No Advertisements. It is not subscribing for the Units as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting.
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2.10 Legend. It acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Securities shall bear a restrictive legend (the “Legend”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities, except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and such laws which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, is available.
2.11 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. It is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of his investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests.
2.12 Investment Purposes. It is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and it has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity. It shall not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Securities unless in compliance with the Securities Act.
2.13 Restrictions on Transfer. It acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. It agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, it agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one-year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
3 Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:
3.1 Valid Issuance of Share Capital. The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 7,880,000 Class B ordinary shares (of which 1,027,826 Class B ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement relating to the IPO (the “Registration Statement”)) to the Company’s sponsor. As of the date hereof, no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
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3.2 Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the warrant agreement to be entered into with Continental on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Warrant Agreement”) and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (as applicable), as the case may be, each of the Securities will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. On the date of issuance of the Units, the Warrant Shares shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and the payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Warrant Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind other than transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws.
3.3 Organization and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a Cayman Islands exempted company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4 Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Warrants and Warrant Agreement, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.
4 Legends
4.1 Legend. The Company will issue the Units, the Warrants and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Warrant Shares purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. The Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
THESE SECURITIES (i) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) PURSUANT TO THE RESALE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN RULE 905 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THESE SECURITIES ARE DEEMED UNDERWRITERS’ COMPENSATION BY THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (“FINRA”) AND ARE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA RULE 5110.
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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II AND COHEN & COMPANY CAPITAL MARKETS, A DIVISION OF J.V.B. FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC, AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH THEREIN.”
4.2 Purchaser’s Compliance. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3 Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities. The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and (iii) in compliance herewith.
4.4 Registration Rights. The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
5 Lockup
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Securities shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until thirty (30) days after the consummation of an acquisition, share exchange, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), except (a)(i) to the Company’s sponsor’s members, (ii) the directors or officers of the Company, the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members or the Purchaser, (iii) any affiliates or family members of the directors or officers of the Company, the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members or the Purchaser, (iv) any members or partners of the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members, the Purchaser or their respective affiliates, or any affiliates of the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members, the Purchaser, or any employees of such affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member 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 death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) in the case of a trust by distribution to one or more permissible beneficiaries of such trust; (f) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (g) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination; or (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the Company’s completion of an initial business combination; (i) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to the Company’s sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, upon dissolution of such sponsor, or the organizational documents of the Purchaser upon dissolution of the Purchaser; or (j) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization 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 subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Units and the related registration rights will be deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and will therefore, pursuant to Rule 5110(e) of the FINRA Manual, be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in the IPO, subject to certain limited exceptions to permitted transferees hereunder and in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)(B). The private placement securities and the related registration rights may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of five years immediately following the commencement of sales in the IPO.
6 Securities Laws Restrictions
The Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction complies with the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
7 Waiver of Redemption Rights
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all redemption rights (i) in connection with the Company’s completion of the Business Combination, (ii) upon the Company’s failure to complete the Business Combination within 18 months from the completion of the IPO or the liquidation of the Company prior to the expiration of such 18 month period or (iii) if the Company seeks an amendment to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares (as defined below). In the event the Purchaser purchases ordinary shares in the IPO or in the aftermarket (“Public Shares”), such Purchase shall be eligible to redeem any Public Shares upon the same terms offered to all other holders of ordinary shares purchased in the IPO.
8 Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification
8.1 Rescission Waiver. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “Claims”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
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8.2 No Recourse Against Trust Account. The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future, provided that nothing herein shall preclude Purchaser from making any Claim or seeking recourse against the funds held outside of the Trust Account or seeking payment of any deferred underwriting fee due and payable pursuant to the underwriting agreement between the Company, Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC and Northland Securities, Inc. as representatives of the underwriters, in connection with the IPO.
8.3 Section 8 Waiver. The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
9 Terms of the Units
The Units purchased pursuant to this Agreement shall be substantially identical to the Units offered in the IPO except that the Units purchased pursuant to this Agreement (including the Class A ordinary shares and Warrants comprising such Units and the Warrant Shares) (i) will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein; (ii) will be entitled to registration rights; (iii) with respect to the Warrants underlying the Units purchased to this Agreement, may not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in the IPO in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8); and (iv) are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act.
10 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
11 Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
11.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3 Amendment. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4 Binding upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
12 Notices; Indemnity
12.1 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth on the signature page hereto or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, or (c) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, or (iii) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
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12.2 Indemnification. Subject to Section 8, each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13 Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14 Survival; Severability
14.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
14.2 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
15 Headings
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16 Construction
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
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This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
| Armada Acquisition Corp. II | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Stephen P. Herbert | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Accepted and agreed this
[__] day of [_______], 2025
Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC
| By: | ||
| Name: | [x] | |
| Title: | [x] | |
| Address: | ||
[Signature Page to the Private Placement Unit Subscription Agreement]
Exhibit 10.5
PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNIT SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the [x] day of [x] 2025, by and between Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 1760 Market Street, Suite 602, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, and Northland Securities, Inc. (the “Purchaser”)
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell to the Purchaser on a private placement basis (the “Offering”) an aggregate of [x] units (the “Initial Units”) of the Company, each Initial Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Warrants”) to purchase one Class A ordinary share (the “Warrant Shares”) to be governed by the Warrant Agreement (as defined herein), for an purchase price of $[x], or $10.00 per Initial Unit and up to [x] additional units (“the Additional Units” and together with the Initial Units, the “Units”), each Additional Unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one Warrant, for a purchase price of $[x], or $10.00 per Additional Unit. As provided in the Registration Statement (as defined below), the Warrants are exercisable during the period commencing on the later of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below) and 12 months after the closing of the IPO (as defined below) and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination (provided that so long as the Private Warrants are held by the Purchaser or its designees, the Purchaser or its designees will not be permitted to exercise such Warrants after the five year anniversary of the commencement of sales in the IPO in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)).
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase the Units on the terms and conditions set forth herein and the Company wishes to accept such subscription.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1 Agreement to Subscribe
1.1 Purchase and Issuance of the Initial Units. For the aggregate sum of $[x] (the “Purchase Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2) [x] Initial Units at $10.00 per Initial Unit.
In addition to the foregoing, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase up to an additional [x] Additional Units at $10.00 per Additional Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $[x] (the “Additional Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The purchase and issuance of the Additional Units shall occur only in the event that the underwriters’ 45-day over-allotment option (“Over-Allotment Option”) in the IPO is exercised in full or part. The total number of Additional Units to be purchased hereunder shall be in the same proportion as the amount of the Over-Allotment Option that is exercised. Each purchase of Additional Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of any portion of the Over-Allotment Option.
1.2 Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the Offering shall take place by electronic exchange of executed documents simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) and the consummation of the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option, as applicable (each a “Closing Date”).
1.3 Delivery of the Purchase Price. The Initial Purchase Price or the Additional Purchase Price, as applicable, shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by such other method as may be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the trust account (the “Trust Account”) at a financial institution chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (“Continental”), as trustee, on or prior to each Closing Date.
1.4 Delivery of the Units. Upon the applicable Closing Date after delivery of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3, the Purchaser shall become irrevocably entitled to receive the Units purchased hereunder.
2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser
The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
2.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. It understands that no United States federal or state agency or similar agency of any other country has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company, the Offering, the Units, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, or the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Units (excluding the Warrant Shares, the “Unit Shares” and, collectively with the Units, the Warrants, and the Warrant Shares, the “Securities”).
2.2 Organization. It is a company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.3 Private Offering. It is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or it is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. It acknowledges that the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “Accredited Investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and similar exemptions under state law or a non-U.S. Person under Regulation S.
2.4 Authority. This Agreement has been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Purchaser’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.
2.6 No Legal Advice from Company. It acknowledges it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except for any statements or representations of the Company made in this Agreement and the other agreements entered into between the parties hereto, it is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
2.7 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, it has relied solely on its own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon its own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. It understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and it has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.8 Reliance on Representations and Warranties. It understands the Units are being offered and sold to it in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and analogous provisions in the laws and regulations of various states, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the applicability of such provisions.
2.9 No Advertisements. It is not subscribing for the Units as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or presented at any seminar or meeting.
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2.10 Legend. It acknowledges and agrees the certificates evidencing the Securities shall bear a restrictive legend (the “Legend”), in form and substance as set forth in Section 4 hereof, prohibiting the offer, sale, pledge or transfer of the securities, except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement covering these securities under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to any other exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and such laws which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, is available.
2.11 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. It is (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of his investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. It has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests.
2.12 Investment Purposes. It is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof and it has no present arrangement to sell the interest in the Securities to or through any person or entity. It shall not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Securities unless in compliance with the Securities Act.
2.13 Restrictions on Transfer. It acknowledges and understands the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering in the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, and, if in the future, it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), if available, or (C) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction. It agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or another available exemption from registration, it agrees it will not resell the Securities. It further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to it for the resale of the Securities until the one-year anniversary following consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
3 Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:
3.1 Valid Issuance of Share Capital. The total number of all classes of share capital which the Company has authority to issue is 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. As of the date hereof, the Company has issued 7,880,000 Class B ordinary shares (of which 1,027,826 Class B ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement relating to the IPO (the “Registration Statement”)) to the Company’s sponsor. As of the date hereof, no preferred shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
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3.2 Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the warrant agreement to be entered into with Continental on or prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Warrant Agreement”) and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (as applicable), as the case may be, each of the Securities will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. On the date of issuance of the Units, the Warrant Shares shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and the payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have or receive good title to the Warrant Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind other than transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws.
3.3 Organization and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a Cayman Islands exempted company and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
3.4 Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or shareholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery thereof, the Warrants and Warrant Agreement, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by equitable principles of general application and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal and state securities laws or principles of public policy.
3.5 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) conflict with any law statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject. Other than any federal, state or foreign securities filings which may be required to be made by the Company subsequent to the Closing, and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant thereto, the Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or self-regulatory entity in order for it to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.
4 Legends
4.1 Legend. The Company will issue the Units, the Warrants and the Unit Shares, and when issued, the Warrant Shares purchased by the Purchaser, in the name of the Purchaser. The Securities will bear the following Legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:
THESE SECURITIES (i) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) PURSUANT TO THE RESALE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN RULE 905 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THESE SECURITIES ARE DEEMED UNDERWRITERS’ COMPENSATION BY THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (“FINRA”) AND ARE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA RULE 5110.
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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II AND NORTHLAND SECURITIES, INC. AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH THEREIN.”
4.2 Purchaser’s Compliance. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect in any way the Purchaser’s obligations and agreements to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Securities.
4.3 Company’s Refusal to Register Transfer of the Securities. The Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Securities, if in the sole judgment of the Company such purported transfer would not be made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and (iii) in compliance herewith.
4.4 Registration Rights. The Purchaser will be entitled to certain registration rights which will be governed by a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) to be entered into with the Company on or prior to the closing of the IPO.
5 Lockup
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Securities shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until thirty (30) days after the consummation of an acquisition, share exchange, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), except (a)(i) to the Company’s sponsor’s members, (ii) the directors or officers of the Company, the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members or the Purchaser, (iii) any affiliates or family members of the directors or officers of the Company, the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members or the Purchaser, (iv) any members or partners of the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members, the Purchaser or their respective affiliates, or any affiliates of the Company’s sponsor, the Company’s sponsor’s members, the Purchaser, or any employees of such affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member 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 death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) in the case of a trust by distribution to one or more permissible beneficiaries of such trust; (f) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (g) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination; or (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the Company’s completion of an initial business combination; (i) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to the Company’s sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, upon dissolution of such sponsor, or the organizational documents of the Purchaser upon dissolution of the Purchaser; or (j) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization 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 subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Units and the related registration rights will be deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and will therefore, pursuant to Rule 5110(e) of the FINRA Manual, be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in the IPO, subject to certain limited exceptions to permitted transferees hereunder and in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)(B). The private placement securities and the related registration rights may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of five years immediately following the commencement of sales in the IPO.
6 Securities Laws Restrictions
The Purchaser agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction complies with the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
7 Waiver of Redemption Rights
In connection with the Securities purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby waives any and all redemption rights (i) in connection with the Company’s completion of the Business Combination, (ii) upon the Company’s failure to complete the Business Combination within 18 months from the completion of the IPO or the liquidation of the Company prior to the expiration of such 18 month period or (iii) if the Company seeks an amendment to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares (as defined below). In the event the Purchaser purchases ordinary shares in the IPO or in the aftermarket (“Public Shares”), such Purchase shall be eligible to redeem any Public Shares upon the same terms offered to all other holders of ordinary shares purchased in the IPO.
8 Rescission Right Waiver and Indemnification
8.1 Rescission Waiver. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act requires there be no general solicitation of purchasers of the Units. In this regard, if the Offering were deemed to be a general solicitation with respect to the Units, the offer and sale of such Units may not be exempt from registration and, if not, the Purchaser may have a right to rescind its purchase of the Units. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering and in order to protect the Company, its shareholders and the Trust Account from claims that may adversely affect the Company or the interests of its shareholders, the Purchaser hereby agrees to waive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, right to sue or rights in law or arbitration, as the case may be, to seek rescission of its purchase of the Units as a result of the issuance of the Units being deemed to be in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees this waiver is being made in order to induce the Company to sell the Units to the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees the foregoing waiver of rescission rights shall apply to any and all known or unknown actions, causes of action, suits, claims or proceedings (collectively, “Claims”) and related losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, whether compensatory, consequential or exemplary, and expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees and disbursements and all other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any Claims, whether pending or threatened, in connection with any present or future actual or asserted right to rescind the purchase of the Units hereunder or relating to the purchase of the Units and the transactions contemplated hereby.
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8.2 No Recourse Against Trust Account. The Purchaser agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever in connection with its purchase of the Units or any Claim that may arise now or in the future, provided that nothing herein shall preclude Purchaser from making any Claim or seeking recourse against the funds held outside of the Trust Account or seeking payment of any deferred underwriting fee due and payable pursuant to the underwriting agreement between the Company, Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC and Northland Securities, Inc. as representatives of the underwriters, in connection with the IPO.
8.3 Section 8 Waiver. The Purchaser agrees that to the extent any waiver of rights under this Section 8 is ineffective as a matter of law, the Purchaser has offered such waiver for the benefit of the Company as an equitable right that shall survive any statutory disqualification or bar that applies to a legal right. The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of consideration received from the Company hereunder in this regard.
9 Terms of the Units
Units. The Units purchased pursuant to this Agreement shall be substantially identical to the Units offered in the IPO except that the Units purchased pursuant to this Agreement (including the Class A ordinary shares and Warrants comprising such Units and the Warrant Shares) (i) will be subject to the transfer restrictions described herein; (ii) will be entitled to registration rights; (iii) with respect to the Warrants underlying the Units purchased to this Agreement, may not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in the IPO in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8); and (iv) are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Units is registered under the Securities Act.
10 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for agreements made and to be wholly performed within such territory. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
11 Assignment; Entire Agreement; Amendment
11.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder may be assigned by any party to any other person other than by the Purchaser, without the prior consent of the Company, to one or more persons agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof. Upon such assignment by a Purchaser, the assignee(s) shall become Purchaser hereunder and have the rights and obligations provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
11.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature.
11.3 Amendment. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
11.4 Binding upon Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
12 Notices; Indemnity
12.1 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the receiving party’s address set forth on the signature page hereto or to such other address as a party may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by overnight courier, or (c) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been given either (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is delivered to the courier service, or (iii) if sent by certified mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.
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12.2 Indemnification. Subject to Section 8, each party shall indemnify the other party against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.
13 Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
14 Survival; Severability
14.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the Closing until one (1) year following the consummation of an initial Business Combination.
14.2 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that no such severability shall be effective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
15 Headings
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
16 Construction
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
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This subscription is accepted by the Company as of the date first written above.
| Armada Acquisition Corp. II | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Stephen P. Herbert | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Accepted and agreed this
[__] day of [_______], 2025
Northland Securities, Inc.
| By: | ||
| Name: | [x] | |
| Title: | [x] | |
| Address: | ||
[Signature Page to the Private Placement Unit Subscription Agreement]
Exhibit 10.7
INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [•], 2025, by and between Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and _______________ (“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (the “Articles”) provide for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable Cayman Islands law. The Articles provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Articles and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated as of [•], 2025 between the Company, Indemnitee and other parties thereto, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
| 1. | SERVICES TO THE COMPANY |
In consideration of the Company’s covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as provided in Section 17. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
| 2. | DEFINITIONS |
As used in this Agreement:
(a) References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, advisor, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
(b) The terms “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) “Cayman Court” shall mean the courts of the Cayman Islands.
(d) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i) Acquisition of Shares by Third Party. Other than Armada Sponsor II LLC (the “Sponsor”) or an affiliate of the Sponsor, any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;
(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
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(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than an affiliate of the Sponsor, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;
(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or
(v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
(e) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(f) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
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(g) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
(h) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(i) “Expenses” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, including reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(j) References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan.
(k) References to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.
(l) “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporate law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
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(m) The term “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.
(n) The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or her or of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
(o) The term “Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.
(p) The phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to: (a) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the provision of applicable Cayman Islands law that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of applicable Cayman Islands law, and (b) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of applicable Cayman Islands law adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.
| 3. | INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS |
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, in no event shall Indemnitee be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or advanced any amounts hereunder in respect of any Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if any) that Indemnitee may incur by reason of his or her own actual fraud or intentional misconduct. Indemnitee shall not be found to have committed actual fraud or intentional misconduct for any purpose of this Agreement unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.
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| 4. | INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY |
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Cayman Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.
| 5. | INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL |
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, but subject to Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
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| 6. | INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, but subject to Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party or threatened to be made a party, he or she shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.
| 7. | ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS |
Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4 or 5, but subject to Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7 on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of applicable law.
| 8. | CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY |
(a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.
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| 9. | EXCLUSIONS |
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance Expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity or advancement provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise;
(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f) and (g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
| 10. | ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM |
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Articles, applicable law or otherwise. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that Indemnitee was not so entitled to indemnification, any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnitee. This Section 10 (a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9, but shall apply to any Proceeding referenced in Section 9(b) prior to a final determination that Indemnitee is liable therefor.
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(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.
| 11. | PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION |
(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.
(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.
| 12. | PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION |
(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if such directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iv) by vote of the shareholders by ordinary resolution. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Cayman Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Cayman Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
| 13. | PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS |
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
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(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.
(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
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(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
| 14. | REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE |
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Cayman Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.
(c) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).
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(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Articles now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).
(g) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under New York law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
| 15. | SECURITY |
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
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| 16. | NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION; PRIORITY OF OBLIGATIONS |
(a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Articles, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Articles or this Agreement, then this Agreement (without any further action by the parties hereto) shall automatically be deemed to be amended to require that the Company indemnifies the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) The Articles permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or her or incurred by or on behalf of him or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement and the Articles. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights. No such payment by the Company shall be deemed to relieve any insurer of its obligations.
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(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 27, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.
(f) Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Company is the primary indemnitor, and any indemnification or advancement obligation of the Sponsor or its affiliates or members or any other Person is secondary.
| 17. | DURATION OF AGREEMENT |
All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his or her Corporate Status, whether or not he or she is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.
| 18. | SEVERABILITY |
If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
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| 19. | ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT |
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.
(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Articles of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(c) The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he or she may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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| 20. | MODIFICATION AND WAIVER |
No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
| 21. | NOTICES |
All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.
(b) If to the Company, to:
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
1760 Market Street, Suite 602
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Attention: Douglas Lurio
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 2900
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attn: Gerry Williams.
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
| 22. | APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION |
This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Cayman Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Cayman Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Cayman Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
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| 23. | IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS |
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
| 24. | MISCELLANEOUS |
The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
| 25. | PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS |
No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
| 26. | ADDITIONAL ACTS |
If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
| 27. | WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT |
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, Indemnitee acknowledges and agrees that any indemnification provided hereto will only be able to be satisfied by the Company if (i) the Company has sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account to satisfy its obligations hereunder or (ii) the Company consummates a Business Combination.
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| 28. | MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE |
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Douglas M. Lurio | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| INDEMNITEE |
|
|
| Name: Stephen P. Herbert Address: c/o Armada Acquisition Corp. II 1760 Market Street, Suite 602 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
|
|
| Name: Douglas M. Lurio Address: c/o Armada Acquisition Corp. II 1760 Market Street, Suite 602 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
|
|
| Name: Thomas A. Decker Address: c/o Armada Acquisition Corp. II 1760 Market Street, Suite 602 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
|
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| Name: Mohammad A. Khan Address: c/o Armada Acquisition Corp. II 1760 Market Street, Suite 602 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
Exhibit 10.8
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
2005 Market Street, Suite 3120
Philadelphia, PA 19103
, 2025
Armada Sponsor II LLC
2005 Market Street, Suite 3120
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the initial public offering of the securities (the “IPO”) of Armada Acquisition Corp. II (the “Company”) and continuing until the earlier of (i) the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or (ii) the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”), Armada Sponsor II LLC (the “Sponsor”) shall make available to the Company certain office space, utilities and secretarial support as may be required by the Company from time to time, situated at 1760 Market Street, Suite 602, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (or any successor location). In exchange therefore, the Company shall pay the Sponsor the sum of $12,000 per month on the Effective Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date. The Sponsor hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies that may be set aside in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) to be established upon the consummation of the IPO (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
[Signature Page Follows]
| Very truly yours, Armada Acquisition Corp. II | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Stephen P. Herbert | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | ||
| AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
| Armada Sponsor II LLC | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Douglas M. Lurio | ||
| Title: Managing Member | ||
[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]
Exhibit 10.9
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [ ], 2025 by and between Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-286110 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering (the “Offering”) of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (the ”Ordinary Shares”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share, has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement); and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Cohen & Company Capital Markets LLC, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, and Northland Securities, Inc. as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $201,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Placement Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $231,150,000 if Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee will be referred to herein as the “Property”; the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $8,000,000, or $9,200,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting commissions that will be payable upon the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined herein) (the “Deferred Commission”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
| 1. | Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to: |
| (a) | Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more and deposit such Property with a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and which will be invested at the discretion of the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; |
| (b) | Manage, supervise, and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein; |
| (c) | In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, (i) invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule) (the “Investment Company Act”), having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, (ii) hold the Property as uninvested cash, or (iii) deposit the Property into an interest bearing bank demand deposit account or other accounts at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidate assets of $100 billion or more selected by the Trustee that |
| is satisfactory to the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder; and while the account funds are invested or uninvested the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods; |
| (d) | Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein; |
| (e) | Promptly notify the Company and the Representatives of all communications received by it with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company; |
| (f) | Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of its tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account or in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements or completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s auditors; |
| (g) | Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so; |
| (h) | Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of and amounts in the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account; |
| (i) | Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Vice President, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer of the company, and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, jointly acknowledged and agreed to by the Representatives, complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable by the Company and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed by the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to the date which is the later of (1) 18 months after the closing of the Offering and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Memorandum and Articles”) the Trustee shall commence liquidation of the Trust Account in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date; |
| (j) | Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any income or other tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority so long as there is no reduction in the aggregate of the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; |
| (k) | Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached as Exhibit D (an “Amendment Notification Letter”) and signed on behalf of the Company by an authorized officer, the Trustee shall distribute to Public Shareholders on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem Ordinary Shares from Public Shareholders properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares included in the Units sold in the Offering (the “public shares”) if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said requests; and |
| (l) | Not make any withdrawals or other distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Sections 1(i) or 1(j) above. |
| 2. | Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees and covenants to: |
| (a) | Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Vice President or Secretary. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i) and 1(j) above, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it in good faith and reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing; |
| (b) | Subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, action, suit, or other proceeding brought against the Trustee which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any income or interested earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit, or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this paragraph, it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim, provided, that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel; |
| (c) | Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee, and a transaction processing fee for which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees and further agreed that any fees owed to the Trustee shall be deducted by the Trustee pursuant to Section 1(i). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first year’s fee at the consummation of the Offering and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c), Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof; |
| (d) | In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholder regarding a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and/or tabulating shareholder votes verifying the vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding such Business Combination; |
| (e) | In the event that the Company directs the Trustee to commence liquidation of the Trust Account pursuant to Section 1(i), the Company agrees that it will not direct the Trustee to make any payments that are not specifically authorized by this Agreement; |
| (f) | If the Company has an Amendment approved by its shareholders, provide the Trustee with an Amendment Notification Letter in the form of Exhibit D providing instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Shareholders who exercise their redemption rights in connection with such Amendment; |
| (g) | Provide the Representatives with a copy of any Termination Letter, Amendment Notification Letter, and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance; |
| (h) | If applicable, issue a press release at least three days prior to the 18 month anniversary of the Offering announcing that, at least ten days prior to the 18 month anniversary of the Offering, the Company received notice from the Sponsor that the Sponsor intends to deposit funds into the Trust Account for extending the period of time to consummate the Business Combination and the Board of Directors of the Company has approved such extension; |
| (i) | Within [ ] business days after the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option or such over-allotment expires, provide the Trustee with notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Commission; and |
| (j) | Promptly following the 18 month anniversary of the Offering, disclose whether or not the deadline for the Company to consummate a Business Combination has been extended. |
| 3. | Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to: |
| (a) | Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Sections 1 and 2 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of its own gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct; |
| (b) | Institute any proceeding for the collection of any interest and income arising from, or institute, appear in, or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto; |
| (c) | Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with Section 1(c); |
| (d) | Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property; |
| (e) | Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee; |
| (f) | The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, except for its gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion, or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee), statement, instrument, report, or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is believed by the Trustee, in good faith, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be |
| bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination, or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto; |
| (g) | Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any Business Combination consummated by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement; |
| (h) | File local, state, and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account or deliver payee statements to the Company documenting the taxes, if any, payable by the Company or the Trust Account, relating to the income earned on the Property; |
| (i) | Pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account or released to it under Section 1(j) hereof); |
| (j) | Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire, or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein; or |
| (k) | Verify calculations, qualify, or otherwise approve Company requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) above. |
| 4. | Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account. |
| 5. | Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows: |
| (a) | If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee during which time the Trustee shall act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that, in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or |
| (b) | At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof, and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b) and Section 5. |
| 6. | Miscellaneous. |
| (a) | The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to funds being transferred to or from the Trust Account to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee will rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a beneficiary, beneficiary’s bank, or intermediary bank. The Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability, or expense resulting from any error in the information supplied to it or funds transferred based on such information. |
| (b) | This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. As to any claim, cross-claim, or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury. |
| (c) | This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument. |
| (d) | This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i) 1(j) and 1(k) (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares of the Company; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its Ordinary Shares in connection with a vote sought to amend this Agreement (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares included in the Units sold in the Offering (the “public shares”) if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment. |
| (e) | Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery, by email or by facsimile transmission: |
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Email: [ ]
Email: [ ]
if to the Company, to:
Armada Acquisition Corp. II
1760 Market Street, Suite 602
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attn: Douglas M. Lurio
E-mail: [ ]
in either case with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Cohen & Company Capital Markets LLC
3 Columbus Circle, Suite 1710
New York, NY 10019
Attn: Jerry Serowik
Email: [ ]
and
Northland Securities, Inc.
750 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attn: Jeff Peterson
Fax No.: [ ]
Email: [ ]
and
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attn: Alexandria E. Kane
Email: [ ]
| (f) | This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company. |
| (g) | Each of the Trustee and the Company hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. |
| (h) | Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that the Representatives are a third party beneficiary of this Agreement. |
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
| CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee | ||||
| By: |
| |||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||||
| By: |
| |||
| Name: Stephen P. Herbert | ||||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | ||||
SCHEDULE A
| Fee Item |
Time and method of payment |
Amount | ||||
| Initial acceptance fee |
Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer | $ | 3,500.00 | |||
| Annual fee |
First year, initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check | $ | 10,000.00 | |||
| Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2 |
Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 2 | $ | 250.00 | |||
| Paying Agent services as required pursuant to section 1(i) and 1(j) |
Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to section 1(i) and 1(j) | Prevailing rates | ||||
EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account Termination Letter
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Armada Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2025 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [__________________] to consummate a business combination (“Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least 72 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account investments and to transfer the proceeds to the Trust Account at [insert bank] to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust account awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate by the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies the vote of the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and the Representatives with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsel’s letter and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by you of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY COHEN & COMPANY CAPITAL MARKETS | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY NORTHLAND SECURITIES, INC. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account – Termination Letter
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement Armada Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2025 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a Target Company within the time frame specified in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to its Offering. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds of the Trust to the Trust Operating Account at [insert bank] to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [____________, 2025] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that while the funds are on deposit in the Trust Operating Account awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, to distribute said funds directly to the Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
cc: Cohen & Company Capital Markets, Northland Securities, Inc.
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account – Withdrawal Instructions
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Armada Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2025 (“Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company [$_______] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. The Company needs such funds to pay for its income or other tax obligations.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
cc: Cohen & Company Capital Markets, Northland Securities, Inc.
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account – Amendment Notification Letter
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Reference is made to the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Armada Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2025 (“Trust Agreement”). Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Trust Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company has sought an Amendment. Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate a sufficient portion of the Trust Account and to transfer $____ of the total proceeds of the Trust to the Trust Account at [insert bank] to await distribution to the Public Shareholders that have requested redemption of their shares in connection with such Amendment. The remaining funds shall be reinvested by you as previously instructed.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
cc: Cohen & Company Capital Markets, Northland Securities, Inc.
Exhibit 14
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
1. Introduction
The Board of Directors of Armada Acquisition Corp. II (the “Company”) has adopted this code of business conduct (the “Code”), which is applicable to all directors, officers, and employees of the Company, with the intent to:
| • | promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| • | promote the full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company; |
| • | promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations; |
| • | deter wrongdoing; and |
| • | require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code. |
This Code may be amended only by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors. In this Code, references to the “Company” include, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries.
2. Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct
Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair, and candid. Deceit, dishonesty, and subordination of the Company’s interests to personal interests are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain or advantage.
Each person must:
| • | Act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or in the Company’s interests. |
| • | Observe all applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations. |
| • | Comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data. |
| • | Adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices. |
| • | Deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors, and employees. |
| • | Refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice. |
| • | Protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use. |
| • | Refrain from taking for themselves personally opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate assets and refrain from using corporate assets, information, or position for general personal gain outside the scope of employment with the Company. |
| • | Avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board of Directors (or the appropriate committee of the Board). Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict if it is related to a member of his or her family or a close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following: |
| • | any significant ownership interest in any supplier or customer; |
| • | any consulting or employment relationship with any customer, supplier, or competitor; |
| • | any outside business activity that detracts from an individual’s ability to devote appropriate time and attention to his or her responsibilities with the Company; |
| • | the receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts, or excessive entertainment from any company with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings; |
| • | being in the position of supervising, reviewing, or having any influence on the job evaluation, pay, or benefit of any close relative; |
| • | selling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as comparable officers or directors are permitted to so purchase or sell; and |
| • | any other circumstance, event, relationship, or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes – or even appears to interfere – with the interests of the Company as a whole. |
3. Disclosure
The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in public communications and in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC shall be full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:
| • | not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent auditors, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations, and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and |
| • | in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness. |
In addition to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.
Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (or the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors if no Audit Committee exists) any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures, or internal controls.
4. Compliance
It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations. It is the personal responsibility of each person to, and each person must, adhere to the standards and restrictions imposed by those laws, rules, and regulations, including those relating to accounting and auditing matters.
5. Reporting and Accountability
The Board of Directors or Audit Committee, if one exists, of the Company is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairman of the Board of Directors or Audit Committee promptly. Failure to do so is itself a breach of this Code.
Specifically, each person must:
| • | Notify the Chairman promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code. |
| • | Not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith. |
The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on the Code:
| • | The Board of Directors or Audit Committee, if one exists, will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it. |
| • | If the Audit Committee (if one exists) determines by majority decision that a breach has occurred, it will inform the Board of Directors. |
| • | Upon being notified that a breach has occurred, the Board by majority decision will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Audit Committee (if one exists) and/or the Company’s counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities. |
No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion, suspension, threat, harassment, or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.
6. Waivers and Amendments
Any waiver (defined below) or an implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is required to be disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
A “waiver” means the approval by the Company’s Board of Directors of a material departure from a provision of the Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of the Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative, or other non-substantive amendments hereto.
All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.
7. Other Policies and Procedures
Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers, or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.
8. Inquiries
All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Company’s Secretary.
Exhibit 23.1
Form #51-850
Published: 3/24/2025
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent
We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report dated December 23, 2024, except for Note 7 as to which the date is March 25, 2025 relating to the financial statements of Armada Acquisition Corp. II appearing in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ Marcum LLP |
| Morristown, New Jersey |
| May 14, 2025 |
Exhibit 99.1
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
OF
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
Purpose
The purposes of the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Armada Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”) are to assist the Board in monitoring: (1) the integrity of the annual, quarterly, and other financial statements of the Company, (2) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, (3) the performance of the Company’s independent auditor, and (4) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee also shall review and approve all related-party transactions.
The Audit Committee shall prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
Audit Committee Membership
The Audit Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members, absent a temporary vacancy. The Audit Committee shall meet the “Audit Committee Requirements” of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the independence and experience requirements of Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission.
The members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board. Audit Committee members may be replaced by the Board. There shall be a Chairman of the Audit Committee which shall also be appointed by the Board. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be a member of the Audit Committee and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Audit Committee. He or she shall advise and counsel with the executives of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Audit Committee or the Board.
Meetings
The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it determines, but not less frequently than quarterly. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with management and the independent auditor in separate executive sessions. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee.
Audit Committee Authority and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee shall have the sole authority to appoint or replace the independent auditor. The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The independent auditor shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimus exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit). The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees of the Audit Committee consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Audit Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting, or other advisors. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for payment of compensation to (i) the independent auditor for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report and (ii) any advisors employed by the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall make regular reports to the Board. The Audit Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Audit Committee annually shall review the Audit Committee’s own performance.
The Audit Committee shall:
Financial Statement and Disclosure Matters
| 1. | Meet with the independent auditor prior to the audit to review the scope, planning, and staffing of the audit. |
| 2. | Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (or the annual report to shareholders if distributed prior to the filing of the Form 10-K). |
| 3. | Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q, including the results of the independent auditor’s review of the quarterly financial statements. |
| 4. | Discuss with management and the independent auditor, as appropriate, significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including: |
| (a) | any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles; |
| (b) | the Company’s critical accounting policies and practices; |
| (c) | all alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management and the ramifications of the use of such alternative accounting principles; |
| (d) | any major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and |
| (e) | any material written communications between the independent auditor and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences. |
| 5. | Discuss with management the Company’s earnings press releases generally, including the use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information, and any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. Such discussion may be general and include the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made. |
| 6. | Discuss with management and the independent auditor the effect on the Company’s financial statements of (i) regulatory and accounting initiatives and (ii) off-balance sheet structures. |
| 7. | Discuss with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies. |
| 8. | Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit, including any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management. |
| 9. | Review disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or individuals performing similar functions) during their certification process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs about any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Oversight of the Company’s Relationship with the Independent Auditor
| 10. | At least annually, obtain and review a report from the independent auditor, consistent with the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding (a) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues and (d) all relationships between the independent auditor and the Company. Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditor, including whether the auditor’s quality controls are adequate and the provision of permitted non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence, and taking into account the opinions of management and the internal auditor. The Audit Committee shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditor to the Board. |
| 11. | Verify the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law. Consider whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, it is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating the independent auditing firm on a regular basis. |
| 12. | Oversee the Company’s hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor who participated in any capacity in the audit of the Company. |
| 13. | Be available to the independent auditor during the year for consultation purposes. |
Compliance Oversight Responsibilities
| 14. | Obtain assurance from the independent auditor that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated. |
| 15. | Review and approve all related-party transactions. |
| 16. | Inquire and discuss with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Company’s Code of Ethics in effect at such time, if any, and, where applicable, recommend policies and procedures for future compliance. |
| 17. | Establish procedures (which may be incorporated in the Company’s Code of Ethics, in effect at such time, if any) for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies. |
| 18. | Discuss with management and the independent auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies. |
| 19. | Discuss with the Company’s General Counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements or the Company’s compliance policies. |
| 20. | Review and approve all payments made to the Company’s officers and directors or its or their affiliates. Any payments made to members of the Audit Committee will be reviewed and approved by the Board, with the interested director or directors abstaining from such review and approval. |
Limitation of Audit Committee’s Role
While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the independent auditor.
Exhibit 99.2
CHARTER OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
ARMADA ACQUISITION CORP. II
I. PURPOSES
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Armada Acquisition Corp. II (the “Company”) for the purposes of, among other things, (a) discharging the Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of the Company’s chief executive officer (the “CEO”) and other executive officers of the Company, (b) administering or delegating the power to administer the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans, and (c) if required by applicable rules and regulations, issuing a “Compensation Committee Report” to be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable.
II. RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to such other duties as the Board may from time to time assign, the Committee shall:
| • | Establish, review, and approve the overall executive compensation philosophy and policies of the Company, including the establishment, if deemed appropriate, of performance-based incentives that support and reinforce the Company’s long-term strategic goals, organizational objectives, and stockholder interests. |
| • | Review and approve the Company’s goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO, annually evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and, based on this evaluation, determine the CEO’s compensation level, including, but not limited to, salary, bonus or bonus target levels, long and short-term incentive and equity compensation, retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans as the Committee deems appropriate. In determining the long-term incentive component of the CEO’s compensation, the Committee shall consider, among other factors, the Company’s performance and relative stockholder return, the value of similar incentive awards to CEOs at comparable companies, and the awards given to the Company’s CEO in past years. The CEO shall not be present during voting and deliberations relating to CEO compensation. |
| • | Determine the compensation of all other executive officers, including, but not limited to, salary, bonus or bonus target levels, long and short-term incentive and equity compensation, retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans, as the Committee deems appropriate. Members of senior management may report on the performance of the other executive officers of the Company and make compensation recommendations to the Committee, which will review and, as appropriate, approve the compensation recommendations. |
| • | Receive and evaluate performance target goals for the senior officers and employees (other than executive officers) and review periodic reports from the CEO as to the performance and compensation of such senior officers and employees. |
| • | Administer or delegate the power to administer the Company’s incentive and equity-based compensation plans, including the grant of stock options, restricted stock, and other equity awards under such plans. |
| • | Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the adoption of, and amendments to, incentive compensation and equity-based plans and approve for submission to the stockholders all new equity compensation plans that must be approved by stockholders pursuant to applicable law. |
| • | Review and approve any annual or long-term cash bonus or incentive plans in which the executive officers of the Company may participate. |
| • | Review and approve for the CEO and the other executive officers of the Company any employment agreements, severance arrangements, and change in control agreements or provisions. |
| • | Review and discuss with the Company’s management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K, Item 402, if required, and, based on such review and discussion, determine whether to recommend to the Board of Directors of the Company that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s annual report or proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders. |
| • | Provide the Compensation Committee Report for the Company’s annual report or proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders, if required. |
| • | Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Committee. In conducting such review, the Committee shall evaluate and address all matters that the Committee considers relevant to its performance, including at least the following: (a) the adequacy, appropriateness, and quality of the information received from management or others; (b) the manner in which the Committee’s recommendations were discussed or debated; (c) whether the number and length of meetings of the Committee were adequate for the Committee to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner; and (d) whether this Charter appropriately addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope. |
III. COMPOSITION
The Committee shall be comprised of two or more members (including a chairperson), all of whom shall be “independent directors,” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market. At least two of the Committee members shall be “non-employee directors” as defined by Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The members of the Committee and the chairperson shall be selected not less frequently than annually by the Board and serve at the pleasure of the Board. A Committee member (including the chairperson) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board.
The Committee shall have authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to one or more subcommittees as the Committee may from time to time deem appropriate. If at any time the Committee includes a member who is not a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, then a subcommittee comprised entirely of individuals who are “non-employee directors” may be formed by the Committee for the purpose of ratifying any grants of awards under any incentive or equity-based compensation plan for the purposes of complying with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act; provided that any such grants shall not be contingent on such ratification.
IV. MEETINGS AND OPERATIONS
The Committee shall meet as often as necessary, but at least two times each year, to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities. The Committee shall meet at the call of its chairperson or a majority of its members. The Committee may meet by telephone conference call or by any other means permitted by law or the Company’s Bylaws. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Subject to the Company’s Bylaws, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members in lieu of a meeting. The Committee shall determine its own rules and procedures, including designation of a chairperson pro tempore in the absence of the chairperson, and designation of a secretary. The secretary need not be a member of the Committee and shall attend Committee meetings and prepare minutes. The Secretary of the Company shall be the Secretary of the Committee unless the Committee designates otherwise. The Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which shall be recorded or filed with the books and records of the Company. Any member of the Board shall be provided with copies of such Committee minutes if requested.
The Committee may ask members of management, employees, outside counsel, or others whose advice and counsel are relevant to the issues then being considered by the Committee to attend any meetings (or a portion thereof) and to provide such pertinent information as the Committee may request.
The chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for leadership of the Committee, including preparing the agenda which shall be circulated to the members prior to the meeting date, presiding over Committee meetings, making Committee assignments, and reporting the Committee’s actions to the Board. Following each of its meetings, the Committee shall deliver a report on the meeting to the Board, including a description of all actions taken by the Committee at the meeting.
If at any time during the exercise of his or her duties on behalf of the Committee, a Committee member has a direct conflict of interest with respect to an issue subject to determination or recommendation by the Committee, such Committee member shall abstain from participation, discussion, and resolution of the instant issue, and the remaining members of the Committee shall advise the Board of their recommendation on such issue. The Committee shall be able to make determinations and recommendations even if only one Committee member is free from conflicts of interest on a particular issue.
V. AUTHORITY
The Committee has the authority, to the extent it deems appropriate, to conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities and to retain one or more compensation consultants to assist in the evaluation of CEO or executive compensation or other matters. The Committee shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any such consulting firm, and to approve the firm’s fees and other retention terms. The Committee shall evaluate whether any compensation consultant retained or to be retained by it has any conflict of interest in accordance with Item 407(e)(3)(iv) of Regulation S-K. The Committee shall also have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain legal counsel or other advisors. In retaining compensation consultants, outside counsel, and other advisors, the Committee must take into consideration factors specified in the Nasdaq Stock Exchange listing rules. The Company will provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of any such investigations or studies and the compensation to any consulting firm, legal counsel, or other advisors retained by the Committee.