Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 28, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Mar 28, 2025
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Item 1. Business
Introduction
We are a blank check company incorporated on November 11, 2020 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting the Business Combination. Although we are not limited in our search for target businesses to a particular industry or sector for the purpose of consummating the Business Combination, we are focusing our search on companies operating in the financial services, healthcare, real estate services, technology and software industries. Further, our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to any characteristics, although we expect to favor potential target companies with certain characteristics which include, but are not limited to, positive long term growth prospects, competitive advantages, consolidation opportunities, recurring revenue or the potential for recurring revenue, opportunities for operational improvement and attractive margins or the potential for attractive margins.
Our executive officers consists of:
| ● | Brandon Lutnick, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who joined Cantor in April 2022 and has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cantor since February 2025; and |
| ● | Jane Novak, our Chief Financial Officer, who joined Cantor in October 2017 and, since then, has served as the Global Head of Accounting Policy. |
We, the Sponsor, and CF&Co. are all affiliates of Cantor. Cantor is a diversified company primarily specializing in financial and real estate services for customers operating in the global financial and commercial real estate markets. Cantor’s businesses include CF&Co., a leading independent middle market investment bank and primary dealer; a controlling interest in BGC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BGC), a leading global brokerage and technology company primarily servicing the global financial markets; and a controlling interest in Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK), a leading full-service commercial real estate services business. We believe that the combination of our management team’s and our affiliates’ financial services, financial and real estate technology, and real estate industry expertise and proven ability to grow businesses through acquisitions make us uniquely qualified to pursue acquisitions.
Past performance of Cantor, our management team or any of their respective affiliates (including any prior Cantor SPAC) is not a guarantee (i) that we will be able to identify a candidate for the Business Combination; (ii) that we will be able to successfully negotiate a business combination agreement and consummate the closing of the Business Combination into which we have entered; or (iii) that the post-Business Combination performance of any such combined company will be positive. Shareholders should not rely on any positive historical performance records of Cantor, our management team, any of their respective affiliates (including any prior Cantor SPAC) as indicative of our future performance.
Initial Public Offering
On January 8, 2025, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 Class A ordinary shares at a price of $10.00 per share, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $200,000,000.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we completed the sale of the Private Placement Shares to the Sponsor in the Private Placement at a purchase price of $10.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $5,000,000.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, a total of $200,000,000, comprised of the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, was placed in the Trust Account maintained by Continental, acting as trustee. The funds in the Trust Account were initially held in an account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and on January 9, 2025, were transferred to an account at CF Secured, LLC (“CF Secured”), an affiliate of the Sponsor. The Trust Account may be invested only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by us meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, or held as cash or cash items (including in demand deposit accounts) at a bank as determined by us, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of the Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.
We have until January 8, 2027 (24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering), or until such earlier liquidation date as the Board may approve or such later date as our shareholders may approve pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles, to consummate the Business Combination. If we are unable to complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Public Shares are traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “CEPO.” The Public Shares commenced public trading on January 7, 2025.
Business Strategy
Our acquisition strategy is to identify and acquire a company in an industry that complements the experience and expertise of our management team and the Sponsor and its affiliates. Our acquisition selection process leverages the network of contacts developed by our management team and the Sponsor and its affiliates to provide us with a number of business combination opportunities. Upon completion of the Initial Public Offering, our management began the process of locating, identifying, pursuing and reviewing potential target companies.
Our management team and Cantor and its affiliates have experience in:
| ● | sourcing, structuring, acquiring and selling businesses; |
| ● | fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target management teams; |
| ● | negotiating transactions; |
| ● | executing transactions in multiple geographies and under varying economic and financial market conditions; |
| ● | accessing the capital markets; |
| ● | operating companies, setting and changing strategies, and identifying, monitoring and recruiting talent; |
| ● | acquiring and integrating companies; and |
| ● | developing and growing companies, both organically and through acquisitions and strategic transactions, and expanding the product range and geographic footprint of their businesses. |
Investment Criteria
While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business, industry, sector or geographical location, we are focusing on industries that complement the background ofour management team and the Sponsor and its affiliates. We therefore are focusing on potential target companies primarily in the financial services, healthcare, real estate services, technology and software industries.
Further, our efforts to identify a prospective target business are not limited to any characteristics, although we expect to favor potential target companies with certain characteristics which include, but are not limited to, positive long term growth prospects, competitive advantages, consolidation opportunities, recurring revenue or the potential for recurring revenue, opportunities for operational improvement and attractive margins or the potential for attractive margins.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular Business Combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant. A potential target company may not have all or any of the characteristics described above.
Business Combination
So long as we maintain a listing for the Public Shares on Nasdaq, we must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with the Business Combination. The Board will make the determination as to the fair market value of the target company in the Business Combination. If the Board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target company in the Business Combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that the Board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of the target company in the Business Combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, the Business Combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors. If we are no longer listed on Nasdaq, we would not be required to satisfy the above-referenced fair market value test.
We could raise additional proceeds to complete the Business Combination by issuing a class of equity or equity-linked securities in a private placement. The amount and other terms and conditions of any such private placement would be determined at the time thereof. We are not obligated to make any private placement and may determine not to do so. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B ordinary shares, any such private placement would result in an adjustment to the conversion ratio such that the Founder Shares would continue to represent 20% of the sum of the total number of all Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding upon completion of the Initial Public Offering (not including the Private Placement Shares) plus all shares issued in the private placement, unless the holders of a majority of the then-issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares agreed to waive such adjustment with respect to the private placement at the time thereof. We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of the Class B ordinary shares at the time of any such private placement would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for the Business Combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A shareholders on structuring the Business Combination; or (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B ordinary shares. If such adjustment is not waived, the private placement would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of the Class B ordinary shares, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of the Class A ordinary shares. If such adjustment is waived, the private placement would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of the Ordinary Shares.
We anticipate structuring the Business Combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-Business Combination company in which the Public Shareholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses, or (ii) in such a way so that the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders, or for other reasons. However, we will only complete the Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the Business Combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-Business Combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the Business Combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to the Business Combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to the Business Combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-Business Combination company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of Nasdaq’s 80% fair market value test. If the Business Combination involves more than one target business, the 80% fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the transactions and we will treat the target businesses together as the Business Combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking shareholder approval, as applicable.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds in order to meet our anticipated operating expenses. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking due diligence and negotiating the Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to the Business Combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete the Business Combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of the Public Shares upon completion of the Business Combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with the Business Combination. In addition, we are targeting businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the Trust Account, net of amounts needed to satisfy redemptions by Public Shareholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed Business Combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of the Business Combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of the Business Combination. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with the Business Combination, including pursuant to any forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into. Any such additional financing may cause material dilution to the Public Shareholders. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of the Business Combination. If we are unable to complete the Business Combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following the Business Combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
We have until the end of the Combination Period to consummate the Business Combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate the Business Combination within the Combination Period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend the Memorandum and Articles to extend the date by which we must consummate the Business Combination. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, subject to the facts and circumstances at the relevant time with respect to any potential Business Combination, we do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our Business Combination beyond 36 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the Combination Period, the Sponsor’s investment in the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares will be worthless. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, holders of Public Shares will be offered an opportunity to vote on the extension and to redeem their Public Shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned thereon (less taxes paid and payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, subject to applicable law.
Potential Additional Financing
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of the Business Combination (which may include a private placement), and we may effectuate the Business Combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the Trust Account. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed Business Combination. Any such additional financing may cause material dilution to the Public Shareholders. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of the Business Combination. In the case of the Business Combination being funded with assets other than the Trust Account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the Business Combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek shareholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, including pursuant to any private placement, or through loans in connection with the Business Combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Our Business Combination Process
In evaluating prospective business combinations, we conduct a thorough due diligence review that encompasses, among other things, a review of historical and projected financial and operating data, meetings with management and their advisors (if applicable), inspection of facilities and assets to the extent possible, document reviews, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which is made available to us and which we deem appropriate. We utilize our expertise and the Sponsor’s expertise in analyzing and evaluating companies and their potential financial performance.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities, including private investors (which may be individuals, investment partnerships or other entities), other SPACs and other entities seeking to acquire businesses with characteristics similar to those described herein. In recent years, the number of SPACs that have been formed has increased substantially. Because there are more SPACs seeking to enter into Business Combinations with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause target companies to demand improved financial terms, which could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate the Business Combination.
We are not prohibited from pursuing the Business Combination with a business that is affiliated with Cantor or its affiliates, the Sponsor or our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete the Business Combination with a business that is affiliated with Cantor or its affiliates, the Sponsor or our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions that the Business Combination is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view.
The Sponsor has agreed to lend us up to $3,000,000 pursuant to the Sponsor Note in connection with each Redemption Event such that an amount equal to $0.15 per Public Share being redeemed in connection with the applicable Redemption Event will be added to the Trust Account and paid to the holders of the applicable redeemed Public Shares on such Redemption Event. The Sponsor Note does not bear interest and will be convertible at the Sponsor’s option into Class A ordinary shares at a conversion price of $10.00 per share no earlier than 60 days after the date of the Initial Public Offering. Otherwise, the Sponsor Note will be repaid by us at the closing of the Business Combination. If we are unable to consummate the Business Combination, the Sponsor Note would be repaid only out of funds held outside of the Trust Account.
Cantor is the beneficial owner of the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares by virtue of its ownership of the Sponsor and members of our management team may have an indirect ownership interest in some of such securities. Because of such ownership and interests, Cantor, and any of our officers and directors who have an ownership interest in or are employed by Cantor, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate the Business Combination. The low price that the Sponsor paid for the Founder Shares (approximately $0.005 per share) creates an incentive whereby the Sponsor could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for the Public Shareholders.
If we are unable to complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period, the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares may be worthless except to the extent the holders thereof receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the Trust Account, which could create an incentive for the Sponsor and our executive officers and directors who have an ownership interest in or are employed by Cantor to complete a transaction, even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for the Public Shareholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular Business Combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors were to be included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to the Business Combination.
All of our officers are employed by Cantor or its affiliates. Cantor is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for the Business Combination. While Cantor does not have any duty to offer acquisition opportunities to us, Cantor may become aware of a potential transaction that is an attractive opportunity for us, which Cantor may decide to share with us.
The Sponsor, our officers and directors, Cantor and their affiliates may sponsor, form or participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, invest or otherwise become affiliated with, other blank check companies, including in connection with their Business Combinations, or may pursue other business or investment ventures, even prior to us entering into a definitive agreement for the Business Combination or completing the Business Combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing the Business Combination. In particular, certain of our executive officers and directors also serve as executive officers or directors of other active Cantor SPACs, which Cantor SPACs are focused on searching for businesses in industries similar to the industries in which our search is focused. The active Cantor SPACs may compete with us for Business Combination opportunities. If any active Cantor SPAC decides to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunity.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a Business Combination opportunity, including Cantor SPACs or to clients of Cantor or other affiliates of the Sponsor or our officers or directors, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular Business Combination opportunity should be presented. The Memorandum and Articles provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. For example, a Business Combination opportunity may be suitable for another Cantor SPAC and us and our officers and directors who are officers and directors of such other Cantor SPAC may, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, choose to direct such opportunity to such other Cantor SPAC before presenting it to us, meaning we could find less suitable acquisition opportunities and could limit our ability to find a business combination that we find attractive. However, based on the existing relationships of the Sponsor and our directors and officers, the fact that we may consummate a Business Combination with a target in a wide range of industries, as well as the experiences of certain of our directors and officers and affiliates of the Sponsor with prior Cantor SPACs, we do not believe that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete the Business Combination.
Additionally, the personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and pursuing the Business Combination or completing the Business Combination. The different timelines of competing Business Combination opportunities could cause our directors and executive officers to prioritize one Business Combination opportunity over another Business Combination opportunity even if the latter opportunity was with a more financially stable target. For example, if two targets are being evaluated by our management team, one of which has a better risk or financial stability profile for the Public Shareholders but may take a longer time to diligence and complete the Business Combination process, our management team may decide to choose what they believe to be the quicker and more certain Business Combination despite its less favorable risk or financial stability profile for the Public Shareholders, as the members of our management team that have a financial interest in us would not receive any financial benefit from such interest unless we consummated the Business Combination. Additionally, if members of our management team form other SPACs with similar investment objectives as ours or pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking the Business Combination, the consideration to be paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to the Business Combinations of such other SPACs or of the activities of such other ventures, and the level of attention paid by members of our management team to them versus the level of attention paid to us, may conflict in a way that is unfavorable to us. Consequently, our directors’ and executive officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular Business Combination opportunity are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest, which could negatively impact the timing for the Business Combination.
In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations with SPACs sponsored by affiliates of Cantor, unless a Business Combination opportunity is expressly offered to us or to one of our directors or officers solely in his or her capacity as our director and/or officer and such opportunity is one we are permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, subject to their other legal obligations, we expect that our officers and directors who are also officers and/or directors of other Cantor SPACs will present suitable target businesses to us and the other Cantor SPACs based on which Cantor SPAC went public first and taking into account any contractual restrictions applicable to each such Cantor SPAC and other reasonable considerations (such as the amount in trust of each applicable Cantor SPAC at such time, whether the Business Combination opportunity is possible or suitable for a Cantor SPAC to pursue, and whether the Business Combination with such target business can realistically be consummated in the time remaining for each such Cantor SPAC).
Our Management Team
Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed the Business Combination. The amount of time that any member of our management team devotes in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the Business Combination and the current stage of the Business Combination process.
We believe our management team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with a substantial number of potential business combination targets.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure makes us an attractive Business Combination partner to target businesses. As a public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a Business Combination with us. Following the Business Combination, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. A target business can further benefit by augmenting its profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. In the Business Combination with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares in the target business for Class A ordinary shares (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of Class A ordinary shares and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers.
Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more expeditious and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial public offering process may take a significantly longer period of time than the typical Business Combination transaction process, and there are significant expenses in the initial public offering process, including underwriting discounts and commissions, marketing and road show efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a Business Combination with us.
Furthermore, once a Business Combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Following the Business Combination, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’ interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public company can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While we believe that our structure and our management team’s backgrounds make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history, our obligation to seek shareholder approval of certain Business Combination structures and our obligation to provide our shareholders a redemption right, negatively.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act. As an exempted company, we have applied for and received a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find the Public Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the Public Shares and the prices of the Public Shares may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following January 8, 2030, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of the Class A ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of the Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues exceed $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of the Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.
In addition, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination only holders of the Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the appointment or removal of directors. As a result, Nasdaq considers us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the appointment of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect to utilize exemptions from certain of Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements. We have utilized, and will continue to utilize, one or more of these exemptions, including that we will not select director nominees through either (i) a vote solely of independent directors, or (ii) a nominations committee comprised solely of independent directors.
Financial Position
With funds available for the Business Combination in the amount of $200.0 million as of the consummation of the Initial Public Offering on January 8, 2025, based on the balance of the Trust Account as of such date, and which is subject to our right to withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay any taxes, and which is subject to reduction for payment of the Marketing Fee of $7,000,000, fees and expenses associated with the Business Combination and redemptions by the Public Shareholders, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because we are able to complete the Business Combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Effecting the Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations other than the pursuit of the Business Combination, at which point we will engage in the business of the target we acquire in the Business Combination. We intend to effectuate the Business Combination using (i) cash remaining in the Trust Account at the time of the Business Combination from the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, (iii) the net proceeds from the sale, if any, of our securities in connection with the Business Combination, (iv) shares issued to the owners of the target, (v) the net proceeds from debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or (vi) a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete the Business Combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If the Business Combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the Trust Account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with the Business Combination or used for redemptions of Public Shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the Trust Account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-Business Combination company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing the Business Combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt (including convertible debt) or equity securities in connection with the completion of the Business Combination (which may include a private placement), and we may effectuate the Business Combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the funds released to us from the Trust Account. In addition, we are targeting businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete the Business Combination. Any such additional financing may cause material dilution to the Public Shareholders. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of the Business Combination. If the Business Combination is funded with assets other than the Trust Account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the Business Combination will disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek shareholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, including pursuant to any private placement, or through loans in connection with the Business Combination. At this time, other than in respect of the Sponsor Note, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Sources of Target Businesses
Target businesses are brought to our attention from various sources, both on a solicited and unsolicited basis, and through contacts of our officers and directors, as well as the Sponsor and its affiliates.
While we have not engaged the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee, advisory fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of finder’s fees is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds released to us from the Trust Account. In no event, however, will the Sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which the Sponsor or our existing officers or directors are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation by us prior to or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the completion of the Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than as described herein. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-Business Combination company following the Business Combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of the Business Combination candidate.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of the Business Combination
So long as we maintain a listing for the Public Shares on Nasdaq, we must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with the Business Combination. The Board will make the determination as to the fair market value of the target company in the Business Combination. If the Board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target company in the Business Combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that the Board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of the target company in the Business Combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, the Business Combination must be approved by a majority of our independent directors. If we are no longer listed on Nasdaq, we would not be required to satisfy the above-referenced fair market value test. We do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with the Business Combination. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate the Business Combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete the Business Combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-Business Combination company is what will be taken into account for purposes of Nasdaq’s 80% fair market value test. There is no basis for our shareholders to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete the Business Combination.
To the extent we complete the Business Combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure our shareholders that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating prospective target businesses, we conduct, and expect to continue to conduct, a thorough due diligence review, which encompasses, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information that is made available to us.
We have engaged CF&Co. pursuant to the BCMA as an advisor in connection with the Business Combination to assist us in holding meetings with our shareholders to discuss the potential Business Combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the Business Combination. We will pay the Marketing Fee to CF&Co. upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In addition, we may engage CF&Co., or another affiliate of the Sponsor, as a financial advisor in connection with the Business Combination and/or placement agent for any securities offering to occur concurrently with the Business Combination and pay such affiliate a customary financial advisory and/or placement agent fee in an amount that constitutes a market standard financial advisory or placement agent fee for comparable transactions. Furthermore, we may acquire a target company that has engaged CF&Co., or another affiliate of the Sponsor, as a financial advisor, and such target company may pay such affiliate a financial advisory fee in connection with the Business Combination.
Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which the Business Combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of the Business Combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete Business Combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. In addition, we are focusing our search for the Business Combination in a single industry. By completing the Business Combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
| ● | subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after the Business Combination, and |
| ● | cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services. |
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting the Business Combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of the Business Combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following the Business Combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to the Business Combination. Moreover, we cannot assure our shareholders that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve the Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we choose to seek shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of Business Combinations we may consider and whether shareholder approval is currently required under Cayman Islands law for each such transaction.
| Type of Transaction | Whether Shareholder Approval is Required |
|---|---|
| Purchase of assets | No |
| Purchase of stock, shares or other equity interests of target not involving a merger with the company | No |
| Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company | No |
| Merger of the company with a target | Yes |
So long as we maintain a listing for the Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq, shareholder approval would be required for the Business Combination if, for example:
| ● | we issue Class A ordinary shares that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of Class A ordinary shares then issued and outstanding (other than in a public offering); |
| ● | any of our directors, officers or substantial shareholders (as defined by Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of Ordinary Shares could result in an increase in issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares or voting power of 5% or more; or |
| ● | the issuance or potential issuance of Ordinary Shares will result in our undergoing a change of control. |
Permitted Purchases of Ordinary Shares
If we seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination and we do not conduct repurchases in connection with the Business Combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Sponsor and our directors or officers or any their respective affiliates may purchase Public Shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of the Business Combination. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of the Public Shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. Additionally, at any time at or prior to the Business Combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material non-public information), the Sponsor, our directors or officers or their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire Public Shares or to not elect to have their Public Shares redeemed. There is no limit on the number of Public Shares that the Sponsor or our directors or officers or any of their respective affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions.
In the event the Sponsor or any of our directors or officers or any of their respective affiliates determine to make any such purchases at the time of a shareholder vote relating to the Business Combination, such purchases could have the effect of allowing us to complete such Business Combination where it would not otherwise be able to be accomplished. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed in accordance with applicable law or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the Trust Account will be used to purchase Public Shares in such transactions prior to completion of the Business Combination.
The purpose of any such purchases of Public Shares could be to reduce the number of Public Shares being submitted for redemption or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of the Business Combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of Public Shares may result in the completion of the Business Combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of the Class A ordinary shares may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of the Public Shares may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of the Public Shares on Nasdaq.
The Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with the Business Combination. To the extent that the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate entering into private purchase agreements, they would identify and contact only potential selling shareholders who have elected to have their Public Shares redeemed for a pro rata share of the Trust Account or those who have voted against the Business Combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to the Business Combination. Such persons would select the shareholders from whom they intend to acquire Public Shares based on the number of Public Shares available, the negotiated price per share and such other factors as any such person may deem relevant at the time of any such purchase agreement. Any such purchases shall be effected at a price per Public Shares no higher than the amount per share a Public Shareholder would receive if it elected to have its Public Shares redeemed in connection with the Business Combination. The Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate they will purchase Public Shares only if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Additionally, in the event the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates were to purchase Public Shares from Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act to the extent such Rule is applicable including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for the Business Combination would disclose the possibility that the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate they may purchase Public Shares from Public Shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
| ● | if the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates were to purchase Public Shares from Public Shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
| ● | our registration statement/proxy statement filed for the Business Combination would include a representation that any of the Public Shares purchased by the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination; |
| ● | the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates would either not possess any redemption rights with respect to such Public Shares or they would waive such rights; and |
| ● | we would disclose in a Form 8-K filed prior to our shareholders’ meeting to approve the Business Combination the following items, to the extent material: |
| o | the amount of Public Shares purchased outside of the redemption offer by the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates, along with the average purchase price; |
| o | the purpose of the purchases by the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates; |
| o | the impact, if any, of the purchases by the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates on the likelihood that the Business Combination will be approved at the shareholders’ meeting; |
| o | the identities of our shareholders who sold to the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our shareholders (e.g., 5% shareholders) who sold to the Sponsor, our officers or directors and/or any of their respective affiliates; and |
| o | the number of Public Shares for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer as of a date shortly prior to the filing date of the Form 8-K. |
Redemption Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of the Business Combination
We will provide the Public Shareholders with the opportunity, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for or vote against the Business Combination, to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of the Business Combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The redemption price was initially $10.15 per Public Share (inclusive of $0.15 per Public Share to be funded pursuant to the Sponsor Note). The Sponsor and our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and any Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of the Business Combination.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide the Public Shareholders with the opportunity, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for or vote against, the Business Combination, to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of the Business Combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the Business Combination and whether the terms of the Business Combination would require us to seek shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions and stock or share purchases would not typically require shareholder approval while direct mergers with us where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares or seek to amend the Memorandum and Articles would require shareholder approval. If we structure the Business Combination with a target company in a manner that requires shareholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a shareholder vote to approve the proposed Business Combination.
We may conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for the Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If a shareholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles:
| ● | conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and |
| ● | file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing the Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies. |
Upon the public announcement of the Business Combination, we or the Sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase Public Shares in the open market if we elect to redeem the Public Shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete the Business Combination until the expiration of the tender offer period.
If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles:
| ● | conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and |
| ● | file proxy materials with the SEC. |
In the event that we seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide the Public Shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the Business Combination.
If we seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination, we will complete the Business Combination only if we obtain the approval of an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders of a majority of the then issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (whether in person or by proxy). Any Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor and our directors and officers will count toward this quorum. Pursuant to the letter agreement, the Sponsor and our officers and directors have agreed, subject to applicable securities laws, to vote their Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of the Business Combination (except that any Public Shares such parties may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination). For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of the Business Combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares, we would need only 7,250,001, or 36.3%, of the 20,000,000 Public Shares (assuming all issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares are voted at the meeting) and only 875,001, or 4.4%, of the 20,000,000 Public Shares (assuming a minimum number of Ordinary Shares to achieve a quorum are voted at the meeting) to be voted in favor of the Business Combination in order to have the Business Combination approved. However, if the Business Combination is structured as a statutory merger or consolidation with another company under Cayman Islands law, the approval of the Business Combination will require a special resolution, which requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders of the issued shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting of the company. We intend to give not less than 20 days prior written notice of any such meeting as is required by applicable securities laws, while also complying with notice requirements of the Memorandum and Articles and Cayman Islands law, at which a vote shall be taken to approve the Business Combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of the Sponsor and our directors and officers, may make it more likely that we will consummate the Business Combination. Each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem its Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed Business Combination, or if they vote at all.
Redemptions of the Public Shares may be subject to a net cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to the Business Combination. For example, the proposed Business Combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes, or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed Business Combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all Public Shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed Business Combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the Business Combination or redeem any Public Shares, and all Public Shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we may instead search for an alternate Business Combination.
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of the Business Combination if we Seek Shareholder Approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we seek shareholder approval of the Business Combination and we do not conduct repurchases in connection with the Business Combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Memorandum and Articles provides that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares (the “Excess Shares”). We believe this restriction will discourage Public Shareholders from accumulating large blocks of Public Shares, and subsequent attempts by such Public Shareholders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed Business Combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their Public Shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a Public Shareholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such Public Shareholder’s Public Shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our Public Shareholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the Public Shares without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of Public Shareholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete the Business Combination, particularly in connection with the Business Combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting the Public Shareholders’ ability to vote all of their Public Shares (including Excess Shares) for or against the Business Combination.
Tendering Share Certificates in Connection with Redemption Rights
We may require Public Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the Business Combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their Public Shares to the transfer agent electronically using the DWAC System, at the holder’s option. The proxy materials that we will furnish to holders of the Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination will indicate whether we are requiring Public Shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a Public Shareholder would have up to two business days prior to the vote on the Business Combination if we distribute proxy materials to tender its Public Shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for shareholders to use electronic delivery of their Public Shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the Public Shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require Public Shareholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their Public Shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
Any request to redeem Public Shares, once made, may be withdrawn with our consent at any time up to the date of the general meeting set forth in our proxy materials. Furthermore, if a holder of a Public Share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to Public Shareholders electing to redeem their Public Shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of the Business Combination.
If the Business Combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then Public Shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for the applicable pro rata share of the Trust Account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by Public Shareholders who elected to redeem their Public Shares.
If the proposed Business Combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete the Business Combination with a different target during the Combination Period.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Business Combination
The Memorandum and Articles provides that we will have until the end of the Combination Period to consummate the Business Combination. If we are unable to complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period and we do not seek shareholder approval to amend the Memorandum and Articles to extend the Combination Period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Sponsor and our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares or Private Placement Shares held by them if we fail to complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor or our officers or directors acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if we fail to complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period.
The Sponsor and our officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to the Memorandum and Articles (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if we do not complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity, unless we provide the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares.
If we do not consummate the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period, we expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from any amounts held outside of the Trust Account, although we cannot assure our shareholders that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the Trust Account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. If those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, we may not request the trustee to release to us any accrued interest in the Trust Account to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, other than the proceeds deposited in the Trust Account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the Trust Account, the per-share redemption amount received by Public Shareholders upon our dissolution would be $10.15 (inclusive of $0.15 per share to be funded pursuant to the Sponsor Note). This amount does not take into account any events occurring after the Initial Public Offering, including the earning of interest on the funds in the Trust Account and our ability to withdraw interest to pay our taxes (other than Excise Tax). The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of the Public Shareholders. We cannot assure the Public Shareholders that the actual per-share redemption amount received by Public Shareholders will not be substantially less than $10.15. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure the Public Shareholders that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Public Shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. Withum, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering, did not, or will not, execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account.
In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm and the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the redemption amount to below the lesser of (i) the sum of (A) $10.00 per Public Share and (B) $0.15 per redeemed Public Share pursuant to the funding of the Sponsor Note in connection with a Redemption Event and (ii) the sum of (A) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes paid and payable, and (B) $0.15 per redeemed Public Share pursuant to the Sponsor Note, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure our shareholders that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below (i) $10.00 per Public Share or (ii) such lesser amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and the Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against the Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against the Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure our shareholders that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure our Public Shareholders that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.15 per Public Share.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account. The Sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have access to the amounts held outside of the Trust Account with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, shareholders who received funds from the Trust Account could be liable for claims made by creditors.
If we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our bankruptcy or insolvency estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy or insolvency claims deplete the Trust Account, we cannot assure our Public Shareholders we will be able to return $10.15 per share to the Public Shareholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by our shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all of the amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, the Board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying Public Shareholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure our shareholders that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
The Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of the Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend any provisions of the Memorandum and Articles (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if we do not complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of all of the Public Shares if we are unable to complete the Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the Trust Account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with the Business Combination, a Public Shareholder’s voting in connection with the Business Combination alone will not result in a Public Shareholder redeeming its Public Shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the Trust Account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. These provisions of the Memorandum and Articles, like all provisions of the Memorandum and Articles, may be amended with a shareholder vote.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for the Business Combination, we have encountered, and expect to continue to encounter, competition from other entities. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing a Business Combination with a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash to the Public Shareholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the cash available to us for the Business Combination. This may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully entering into an agreement with a target business for the Business Combination.
Employees
We currently have two executive officers and no employees. Our executive officers are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed the Business Combination. The amount of time our officers devote in any time period varies based on the stage of the Business Combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of the Business Combination.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We have registered the Public Shares under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports, including this Report, contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
In connection with the Business Combination, we will provide our shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation materials or tender offer materials sent to our shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, U.S. GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential targets we may acquire in the Business Combination because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period. We cannot assure our shareholders that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We are required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any Business Combination. We have filed a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register the Public Shares under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we are subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of the Business Combination.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following January 8, 2030, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of the Class A ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.