Our Company
We are an early stage
blank check company formed as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination. Since our initial
public offering (as described below), we have focused our search for an initial business combination on businesses within the technology
industry. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business are not limited to a particular industry or geographic region,
although we are focusing on targets in an industry where we believe our management team’s and founders’ expertise provide
us with a competitive advantage, including the technology industry.
Initial Public Offering
On January 12, 2021,
we consummated our initial public offering of 40,250,000 public units. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock
of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and one-third redeemable warrant of the Company, with each warrant entitling the holder
thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock for $11.50 per whole share. The public units were sold at a price of $10.00
per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $402,500,000.
Simultaneously with
the closing of the initial public offering, we completed the private sale of an aggregate of 800,000 placement units (450,000 of
which were sold to our sponsor and 350,000 of which were sold to Cantor), at a purchase price of $10.00 per placement unit, generating
gross proceeds of $8,000,000.
A total of $402,500,000,
comprised of $394,500,000 of the proceeds from the initial public offering and $8,000,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the placement
units was placed in the trust account maintained by Continental, acting as trustee.
It is the job of our
sponsor and management team to complete our initial business combination. Our management team is led by Arthur Coviello, our Chairman
of the Board, Paul Deninger, our Vice Chairman of the Board, and Peter Bell, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer
and Director, who have many years of experience in growing and operating technology companies and in acquiring and integrating
companies. We must complete our initial business combination by January 12, 2023, 24 months from the closing of our initial public
offering. If our initial business combination is not consummated by January 12, 2023, then our existence will terminate, and we
will distribute all amounts in the trust account.
The Technology Makeover
Our management team believes
a wide range of technological breakthroughs led by the transformative effects of innovations in cloud computing, artificial intelligence,
cybersecurity and data analytics have accelerated the cycles of change, radically impacting industries and business models across
the world. We believe that all industries within the global economy will need to accept and embrace the entrance into the digital
economy, as technology will impact all aspects of a company’s operations.
Our management team
believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the aforementioned trend and is a catalyst for the digital migration
at a speed and on a scale never seen before. Individuals as well as small and large institutions alike have been forced to adapt
to a new normal of living in a world where physical contact has been hindered and technology has become essential for both personal
and business activities on a daily basis. A number of technology companies such as Amazon, Zoom, and DocuSign are clear winners
from this pandemic, having already reshaped their respective industries, and are using the current opportunity to continue to
scale to become engrained in the day to day necessity for all individuals and institutions.
Amidst the technological
innovations and the continued digitization of the economy, we believe legacy business models that fail to adapt will eventually
cease to exist while innovators that take advantage of the current situation will be awarded outsized opportunities to lead the
upcoming changes. Major shifts are happening in the financial, media and retail sectors, as well as in interpersonal communication,
transportation, and education sectors. We believe the market rewards those who see and understand its trajectory and does not wait
for laggards.
This confluence of enormous
change and plentiful capital has created what we believe is a sizeable opportunity for wealth building, especially as private companies
enter the public markets to fuel their next phase of growth. Our management team believes that there is demand from public market
investors to locate and invest in a high growth technology company, debut it in the public markets and partner with it, as shareholders
and mentors, to help the company elevate itself into the next multi-billion dollar market cap company.
The Opportunity
Global venture capital
investments have increased over 500% in the past decade, from $48 billion in 2010 to $295 billion in 2019, according
to Crunchbase News. Those dollars are spread widely: more than 32,000 companies received venture funding in 2019 alone, according
to Crunchbase News. As of late September 2020, CBInsights reported 491 unicorns globally with a cumulative valuation of $1.5
trillion.
Despite the amount of
investments poured into the private market, the exit opportunity for many of these private companies has been quite narrow. Historically,
private technology companies pursued one of two paths to stockholder liquidity: an initial public offering, or IPO, or a sale of
the company. Unfortunately, neither of these options has kept pace with the exploding number of technology companies. In fact,
the number of venture-backed companies sold has declined, from 1,081 in 2014 to only 882 for in 2019, according to PitchBook.
The number of technology
company IPOs has also diminished. An average of 159 technology companies went public each year during the 1990s, but this figure
dropped to only 37 between 2010 and 2019, a 77% drop, according to data from the University of Florida. That smaller IPO market
has also been predominantly focused on larger, brand-name companies. The median market capitalization of a venture-backed IPO
was approximately $540 million in 2010; it was $3.2 billion in 2019, based on data from the University of Florida.
Not only are the number
of technology IPOs diminishing, but also we believe that the traditional technology IPO process is simply broken with habitual
underpricing by the underwriters. According to a study by Professor Jay Ritter from the University of Florida, the average underpricing
by the underwriters for 646 VC-backed technology IPOs over the span from July 2009 through June 2019 was 21.1%.
In our opinion, this data show that these VC-backed technology companies unnecessarily incurred permanent dilution by going
public through the traditional IPO path.
Our management team believes that
these factors present an intriguing paradox: a growing number of new companies have attracted more private capital, but once they flourish,
they have a narrower exit route. As technology continues to innovate and push the boundaries of how the innovation trickles down through
society, our management team fundamentally believes that special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) are transforming
the capital markets and chartering a new path for private technology companies to go public. Furthermore, we believe the SPAC process
provides institutional investors with an unrivaled ability to better understand the business model and future business prospects of the
target company, providing the investors more conviction in the investment opportunity. We believe the combination of speed to market,
price certainty, upfront liquidity to existing stockholders and the mentorship from our management presents a compelling reason for a
private technology company to pursue a merger with us.
We believe that the current COVID-19 pandemic
has only accelerated the digitization of the global economy. For this reason, our management team believes the need for these private
companies to enter the public markets sooner rather than later has increased. Going public provides the company with a liquid currency
for M&A opportunities, employee equity program for talent recruiting and retention and proper corporate mentorship and, potentially,
governance from experienced former public company executives. We believe this current market dynamic creates a constructive opportunity
for our management team to explore an initial business combination with a target and help drive long-term return for all stockholders
by leveraging our management team’s operational and financial experience.
Management Team
We believe our management
team is well positioned to identify and evaluate businesses within the technology industry that would best benefit from our operational
skillset, diverse and expansive network to usher the company into the public markets. Our management team has a demonstrated track
record of executing and integrating successful M&A and has 100+ years of collective experience in building and nurturing technology
companies both as operators, investors and advisors. The members of our team have been technology industry participants since the
early days of industries such as cybersecurity and cloud computing. They have seen numerous platform shifts and guided public companies
through the inevitable turbulence the technology industry both benefits and suffers from. Their collective focus within the technology
sector has led to the creation of some of the most scaled and valuable players in the market. We believe that our management team’s
historical track record of growing and operating public technology companies and experience in acquiring and integrating companies
will create a compelling partnership with a target in an initial business combination. Our team comprises the following:
Past performance of our
management team and advisors is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial
business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the
historical performance record of our management team or advisors as indicative of our future performance. Additionally, in the
course of their respective careers, members of our management team have been involved in businesses and deals that were unsuccessful.
Some of our officers, directors and advisors have not had experience with blank check companies or special purpose acquisition
companies in the past. In addition, our executive officers, directors, and advisors may have conflicts of interest with other entities
to which they owe fiduciary or contractual obligations with respect to initial business combination opportunities.
Our Mission
Our management team’s
goal is to leverage its deep and proprietary network to identify and complete a business combination with a high-growth technology
company with an enterprise value of greater than $1 billion. We seek to bring synergistic benefits to the acquired company
by leveraging our management’s domain expertise, proven track record in value creation for shareholders, and deep personal
and professional networks to help the company grow organically or via M&A.
The benefits we offer
to a target company encompass, but are not limited to the following:
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Expertise in growing successful technology
companies: Our management team has demonstrated a strong track record of building, investing, nurturing, and leading
disruptive technology companies. We believe that we can spot unique ideas and disruptive business models and grow them from local
sensation to global ubiquity. We believe we can also leverage our professional network to recruit top talent and use that intellectual
capital to help the company achieve great competitive advantages.
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Ability to mentor and support exceptional
executives: Our Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, directors, and advisors have collectively served
on more than 70 public and private boards, both within and outside the technology sector. They have overseen acquisitions, driven
global growth, improved operations, and navigated complex governance challenges while on these boards. Our management team will
bring the experience cultivated to help guide the company in its entrance into the public markets.
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Maximizing the value of becoming a publicly
traded company: As a public company, there are numerous benefits we offer to the stakeholders. These include, but
are not limited to, (i) greater liquid equity for the company’s growth and accretive acquisitions,
(ii) more visibility and stronger branding among the company’s customers, (iii) improved access to debt and equity
capital markets, and (iv) more tangible incentives for employee stock compensation, which play a key role in attracting and
retaining top talent in the technology industry.
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Acquisition Criteria
We are proactively and
aggressively searching for potential business combination candidates using the relationships of our management team and advisors
with technology company executives, venture capitalists and private equity firms. We believe this direct sourcing method allows
us to identify actionable business combination opportunities efficiently and effectively.
We have identified the
following criteria that serve as guidelines for evaluating acquisition opportunities, which we apply and will apply during our
search. All are indicators of compelling growth potential. The attributes we most strongly seek include the following:
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Industry: We focus on
the technology industry, where we have deep and sustained knowledge and expertise. We believe our management team’s extensive
experience within technology enables us to identify and evaluate a potential target quickly in order to secure favorable terms,
as well as plan post-transaction operational improvements;
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Size: We focus on companies
with proven business models, sufficient trading liquidity post-closing of initial business combination and long-term risk
adjusted return potential;
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Market opportunity: We
intend to select an investment in industry segments that have strong long-term growth prospects and significant overall size
and potential;
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Growth over near-term profitability: We
intend to invest in a company with promising substantial room for growth but possesses strong unit economics driven by sustainable
competitive advantages;
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Strong management: We
seek companies with strong management team already in place. We have spent and will spend significant time assessing a company’s
leadership and culture, and maximizing its efficiency over time;
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Opportunity for operational improvement: We
seek companies that would also benefit from the infusion of our management skills and experience. This mentoring will drive improvements
in the company’s processes, as well as its go-to-market and overall execution strategy;
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Will benefit from being public: We
seek companies that can inherently benefit from a public listing. These inherent benefits include acquisition currency, greater
visibility and branding among customers, enhanced access to debt and equity capital markets, and more tangible incentives for employee
stock compensation;
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Developed regulatory processes: We
focus on companies that have adequate processes and could readily operate in the public markets with strong governance, controls
and reporting in place; and
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Appropriate valuations: We
believe we are a rigorous, criteria-based, disciplined, and valuation-centric investor. We intend to acquire a target on terms
that we believe provide significant upside potential with limited risk.
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These criteria are not
intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to
the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team
may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that only
meets some but not all of the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above
criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this Report, would
be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.
We may need to obtain
additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant
number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination. We intend to acquire a company with an enterprise
value significantly above the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the placement units. Depending on the
size of the transaction or the number of public shares we become obligated to redeem, we may potentially utilize several additional
financing sources, including but not limited to the issuance of additional securities to the sellers of a target business, debt
issued by banks or other lenders or the owners of the target, a private placement to raise additional funds, or a combination of
the foregoing.
If we are unable to complete
our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations
and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient to meet
our obligations or our working capital needs, we may need to obtain additional financing.
Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq rules require
that 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 the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the
trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Our board
of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors
is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from
an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the
satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent
determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or
experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s
assets or prospects. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of
our independent directors.
We anticipate structuring
our initial business combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders
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-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business
in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders, or for other reasons. However, we will only
complete an initial business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding
voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required
to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires
50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively
own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial
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 outstanding capital stock 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 stockholders immediately prior to our initial
business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination.
If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company,
the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of Nasdaq’s
80% fair market value test. If the initial 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 initial
business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Our Business Combination Process
In evaluating prospective
business combinations, we conduct a thorough due diligence review process that encompasses, among other things, a review of historical
and projected financial and operating data, meetings with management and their advisors (if applicable), in-depth assessment
of the management talent, on-site inspection of facilities and assets, discussion with customers and suppliers, assessment
of the organization readiness for public company status, legal reviews and other reviews as we deem appropriate. We also seek to
utilize the expertise of our management team in analyzing technology companies and evaluating operating projections, financial
projections and determining the appropriate return expectations given the risk profile of the target business.
We are not prohibited
from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the
event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors,
we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent
entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point
of view.
Certain of our officers
and directors presently have fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director
is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes
aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary
or contractual obligations to present the opportunity to such entity, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual
obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We believe, however, that (aside from Apex Technology Acquisition Corporation
with respect to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer if its initial business combination is not consummated)
the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete
our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest
in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely
in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted
to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer
that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Members of our management
team may become officers or directors of other SPACs even before we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial
business combination.
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, in
the exercise of their respective business judgement, deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business
combination. The amount of time that any member of our management team devote in any time period varies based on the stage of the
business combination process we are in. We do not have an employment agreement with any member of our management team.
We believe our management
team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies provides us with a substantial number of potential
business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a broad network
of contacts and corporate relationships in the technology industry. This network has grown through the activities of our management
team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, our management team’s relationships with sellers, financing sources and
target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying economic and financial
market conditions.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure
will make 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 merger or other business combination with us. Following an initial
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 stockholders’ 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
a business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of stock
in the target business for our shares of Class A common stock (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of
our shares of Class A common stock 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 takes 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 an initial business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed
initial 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 an initial business combination,
we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives
consistent with stockholders’ 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 will 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 and our ability to seek stockholder approval
of any proposed initial business combination, negatively.
We are an “emerging
growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible
to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that
are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements
of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic
reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation
and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive
as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107
of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in
Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging
growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following January
12, 2026, the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross
revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market
value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th,
and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior
three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally,
we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in 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 our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of the prior June 30th,
or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common
stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th.
Financial Position
With funds available
for an initial business combination in the amount of $402,500,000(assuming no redemptions), which amount includes $15,137,500 of
the underwriters’ deferred discount, 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 our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities,
or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the
consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third
party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently
engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations other than the pursuit of our initial business combination, for an indefinite
period of time. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering
and the private placement of the placement units, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business
combination (pursuant to backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of our initial public offering or otherwise),
shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of
the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable
or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business
combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment
of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our Class A common stock,
we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance
or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred
in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We may seek to raise
additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business
combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts
held in the trust account. In addition, we target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of our initial
public offering and the sale of the placement units, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such
proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such
financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. In the case of an initial business combination
funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the initial business
combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such
financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, or through loans in connection with our initial business
combination.
Sources of Target Businesses
Target business candidates
may be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers and investment professionals. Target
businesses may also be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us by calls or mailings.
These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since
many of these sources will have read the prospectus of our initial public offering and know what types of businesses we are targeting.
Our officers and directors, as well as our sponsor and their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates
that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have,
as well as attending trade shows or conventions. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities
that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors
and our sponsor and their affiliates. While we have not and do not anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other
individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the
future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee, 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
held in the trust account. We may pay our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which they are
affiliated, a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation in connection with identifying, investigating and completing
our initial business combination, which may be paid from the proceeds held in the trust account upon consummation of an initial
business combination. We pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $15,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial
and administrative support and to reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating
and completing an initial business combination.
Some of our officers
and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-transaction company following our initial business
combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process
of an initial business combination candidate.
We are not prohibited
from pursuing an initial business combination with an initial business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor,
officers or directors or making the initial business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with
our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with an initial business
combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would
obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions
that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain
such an opinion in any other context.
If any of our officers
or directors become aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to
which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business
combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors
currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring
of our Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq rules require
that 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 the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned
on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. The
fair market value of our initial business combination will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards
generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation, a valuation based on trading multiples
of comparable public businesses or a valuation based on the financial metrics of M&A transactions of comparable businesses.
If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we
will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation
opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not
be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to
do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty
as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. We do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries
in conjunction with our initial 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
our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will
only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the 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-transaction company is what
will be taken into account for purposes of NASDAQ’s 80% fair market value test. There is no basis for our investors to evaluate
the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To the extent we effect
our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development
or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate
the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant
risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective
business target, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent
management and employees, in-depth assessment of the management talent, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers,
inspection of facilities, assessment of the organization readiness for public company status, as well as a review of financial
and other information that will be made available to us.
The time required to
select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated
with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification
and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result
in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period
of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future
performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple
entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate
the risks of being in a single line of business. In addition, we focus our search for an initial business combination in a single
industry. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may
have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and
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cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products
or services.
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Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s
Management Team
Although we continue
to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial
business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In
addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore,
the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty.
The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at
the time of our initial business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in
some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts
to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team
will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you
that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination
as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following an initial
business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business.
We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite
skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability
to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions
without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required
by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented
in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder
approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
Type of Transaction
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Whether
Stockholder
Approval is
Required
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Purchase of assets
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No
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Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company
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No
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Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company
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No
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Merger of the company with a target
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Yes
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Under Nasdaq’s
listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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we issue shares of Class A common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number
of shares of our Class A common stock then outstanding;
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any of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by Nasdaq rules) have 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 common stock could result in an increase in outstanding
common shares or voting power of 5% or more; or
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the issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control.
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Permitted Purchases of our Securities
If we seek stockholder
approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination
pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase
shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion
of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors
or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. However, they
have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions
for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession
of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the
Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender
offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange
Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers
will comply with such rules. 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 shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination.
The purpose of any such
purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood
of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination 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 our initial business combination,
where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be
to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for
approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion
of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public
“float” of our shares of Class A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders
of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities
on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, officers,
directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors
or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt
of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business
combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they
would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro
rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted
a proxy with respect to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates will only
purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our
sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange
Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor
from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has
certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor,
officers, directors and/or their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2)
or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16
of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders
upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our
public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion
of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial 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
outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated
to be approximately $10.00 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their
shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. Our sponsor, officers and
directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with
respect to any founder shares and placement shares (along with Cantor with respect to the placement shares) and any public shares
held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public
stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of
our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business
combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed
initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety
of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder
approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would
not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where
we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would
require stockholder approval. If we structure an initial business combination with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder
approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed initial business combination.
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval
is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal
reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If stockholder approval
of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business
or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A
of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and
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file proxy materials with the SEC.
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In the event that we
seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith,
provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder
approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted
are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person
or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding
shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count toward this quorum
and pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and placement
shares and any public shares purchased during or after our initial public offering (including in open market and privately negotiated
transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding
shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum
is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written
notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum
and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate
our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote
for or against the proposed transaction.
If a stockholder vote
is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange
Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
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file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which
contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights
as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
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Upon the public announcement
of our initial business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to
purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our 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 our initial business combination until
the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering
more than a specified number of public shares which are not purchased by our sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement
that we will only redeem our public shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001
either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees
and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset
or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders
tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation provides that we will only redeem our public shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible
assets will be at least $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after
payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock”
rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business
combination. For example, the proposed initial 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 initial business combination.
In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are
validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial
business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination
or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion
of our Initial Business Combination if we Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection
with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder
is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), is restricted from seeking
redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering, which we refer
to as the “Excess Shares.” Such restriction shall also be applicable to our affiliates. We believe this restriction
will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability
to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed initial business combination as a means to force us or our management to
purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting
our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering without our prior
consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to
complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that
requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting
our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection
with Redemption Rights
We may require our public
stockholders 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 up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal
to approve the initial business combination, or to deliver their 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 our public shares in connection with our initial
business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly,
a public stockholder would have up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination to tender its shares if it
wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders
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 shares or delivering them through
the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether
or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require
holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising
redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
The foregoing is different
from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business
combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business
combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating
such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the initial business combination was approved, the company
would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the
stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the initial business combination during which he or
she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she
could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As
a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become
“option” rights surviving past the completion of the initial business combination until the redeeming holder delivered
its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s
election to redeem is irrevocable once the initial business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem
such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date of the stockholder meeting. Furthermore, if a holder of a public
share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable
date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically
or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their
shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business
combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption
rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will
promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed
initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different
target by January 12, 2023.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation
if no Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation provides that we will have until January 12, 2023 to complete our initial business combination. If
we are unable to complete our initial business combination by January 12, 2023, 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 (less up to
$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will
completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (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 stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and
(iii) above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable
law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless
if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.
Our sponsor, 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 and placement shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial
business combination by January 12, 2023. However, if our sponsor, officers or directors acquire public shares in or after our
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 our initial business combination by January 12, 2023.
Our sponsor, officers
and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection
with our initial business combination or certain amendments to our charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public shares
if we do not complete our initial business combination by January 12, 2023 or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating
to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with
the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock 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 outstanding public shares.
However, we will only redeem our public shares so long as (after such redemption) our net tangible assets will be at least $5,000,001
either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees
and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). If this optional redemption right
is exercised with respect to an excessive number of public shares such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement
(described above), we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of our public shares at such time.
We have sought and will
continue to seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor has 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. Our sponsor are also
not liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have access to the proceeds of our initial public offering, held outside of
the trust account, with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation,
currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined
that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable
for claims made by creditors. Because our offering expenses in connection with our initial public offering (including underwriting
commissions) exceeded our estimate of $1,000,000, we funded such excess with funds from the funds not held in the trust account.
Accordingly, the amount of funds we intend to hold outside the trust account decreased by approximately $4,457 to approximately
$995,543.
We will depend on
sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. However, if those
funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that
there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional
amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend
all of the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the placement units, 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 stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account
could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders.
We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than
$10.00. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full
or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or
provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts,
if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we have sought
and will continue to 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 our public stockholders, 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 offering, have not executed 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. Our sponsor
has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold
to us, 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 amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00
per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of
the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided
that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and
all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims
under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently
verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only
assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
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 our 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 our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently
expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification
obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so
if, 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 our sponsor to reserve for
such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly,
we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less
than $10.00 per public share.
Under the DGCL, stockholders
may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution.
The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the
event we do not complete our initial business combination by January 12, 2023 may be considered a liquidating distribution under
Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure
that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims
can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an
additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders
with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or
the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of
the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro
rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event
we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our initial public offering, is not
considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially
due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then
pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the
unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we are unable to complete
our initial business combination by January 12, 2023, 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay
dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public
stockholders’ rights as stockholders (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 stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above
to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly,
it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible after January 12, 2023, and, therefore, we do not
intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions
received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not
be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at
such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against
us within the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our
operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be
from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to
the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we have sought and will continue to 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. As a result of this obligation, the claims
that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending
to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in
the trust account are not 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 withdrawn to pay taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters
of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that
an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any
liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy
petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account
could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third
parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot
assure you we will be able to return $10.00 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition
or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could
be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent
conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore,
our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith,
thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior
to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public stockholders
are entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial
business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to
amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our
obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or certain amendments to our charter prior thereto
or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by January 12, 2023 or (B) with
respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the
redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our business combination by January 12, 2023, subject to applicable
law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event
we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with
the initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro
rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. These provisions
of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation,
may be amended with a stockholder vote.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating
and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities
having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout
funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic business combinations. 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 the initial business
combination of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise
their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants,
and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors
may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Employees
We currently have three
officers. These individuals 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, in the exercise of their respective business judgement, to our affairs until we have completed
our initial business combination. The amount of time our officers devote in any time period varies based on the stage of the initial
business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of our initial
business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with any member of our management team.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We have registered our
public units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement
that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual
reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide stockholders
with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation
materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will
need to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial
statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements
may limit the pool of potential targets we may conduct an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable
to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial
business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us
as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or that the potential
target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent
that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool
of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We will be required to
evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth
company, will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target company may not be in compliance with the
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of
any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any
such business combination.
We have filed a Registration
Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
As a result, we 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
our initial business combination.
We are an emerging growth company,
as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain
exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including,
but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act,
reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the
requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments
not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market
for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107
of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in
Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging
growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following January
12, 2026, the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross
revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market
value of our shares of Class A common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior
June 30th, and (2) the date on which we
have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein
to “emerging growth company” will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are
a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take
advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial
statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value
of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter,
or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common
stock held by nonaffiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.