Item
1. Business.
In
this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”), references to the “Company” and to “we,” “us,”
“our” and refer to Pono Capital Three, Inc.
Overview
We
are a blank check company incorporated on March 11, 2022, as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
On October 14, 2022, we redomiciled in the Cayman Islands. We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor
has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend
to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our Initial Public Offering (the “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, 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.
Our
management team is led by our Chief Executive Officer, Davin Kazama, an entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in the fields of finance,
real estate development, financial advising, and tax-efficient investment strategies. He is a seasoned professional in raising capital
from angel investors and venture capitalists alike. Since 2012, Mr. Kazama has been the Founder and Manager of Driven PV LLC, which develops
and manages clean energy systems. In this position, he educates and consults parties on clean energy products and the benefits of such
products, including tax incentives and business structuring. He also manages relationships with investors and offtakes, oversees maintenance
of the Company, and performs accounting responsibilities. From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Kazama served as an Advisor to Kai Medical, Inc. In
these roles, he was responsible for raising angel and venture capital investment, managing relationships with the investor base, advising
investors on tax-efficient strategies, and preparing financial reports. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Kazama served as Chief Operating Officer
(“COO”) of Kai Medical, Inc., an award-winning developer of state-of-the-art medical technology. As the Founder and Manager
of Kai Clothing LLC from 2004 to 2009, Mr. Kazama established numerous strategic partnerships with some of Hawaii’s most reputable
companies and ultimately negotiated the sale of the Company in 2009. Mr. Kazama holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from
the University of Puget Sound (1998), an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2003),
and a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies in Finance at Harvard University (2022). Mr. Kazama’s management experience
paired with his entrepreneurial skills in a diverse array of industries makes him a valuable member of our management team and board
of directors.
The
Company’s sponsor is Mehana Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The registration statement
for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 9, 2023. On February 14, 2023, the Company consummated
its Initial Public Offering of 10,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in
the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000 (see Note 6).
The Company granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 Units at the Initial Public Offering price
to cover over-allotments, if any.
Simultaneously
with the consummation of the closing of the Offering, the Company consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 511,375 units
(the “Placement Units”) to the Sponsor at a price of $10.00 per Placement Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $5,113,750
(the “Private Placement”).
On
February 14, 2023, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in full, and the closing of the issuance and sale of the additional
Units occurred (the “Over-allotment Option Units”). The total aggregate issuance by the Company of 1,500,000 units at a price
of $10.00 per unit resulted in total gross proceeds of $15,000,000. On February 14, 2023, simultaneously with the sale of the Over-allotment
Option Units, the Company consummated the private sale of an additional 54,000 Placement Units, generating gross proceeds of $540,000.
The Placement Units were issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as the transactions did not involve
a public offering.
A
total of $117,875,000, comprised of the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and the proceeds of private placements that closed
on February 14, 2023, net of the underwriting commissions, discounts, and offering expenses, was deposited in a trust account established
for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders.
Our
Business Strategy
Our
business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that can benefit from (i) the managerial
and operational experience of our management team, (ii) additional capital, and (iii) access to public securities markets. We plan to
leverage our management team’s network of growing companies where we believe a combination of our relationships, knowledge and
experience in the technology sector could effect a positive transformation or augmentation of existing businesses to improve their overall
value.
The
Company’s focus is on emerging growth technology companies that are well positioned for the recent changes in how businesses operate
or how and what consumers buy. These changes have accelerated over the past year. Industries that fit this well, include but are not
limited to, enterprise security and operations applications, cloud-based content and digital streaming services, drone technology and
service, AI companies, consumer healthcare and wellness, biomedical technology, entertainment/gaming companies, distance learning, online
retail and e-sports companies.
We
believe that the way businesses and consumers operate, make decisions, and spend has forever been changed because of the pandemic. These
changes have accelerated an already growing digital transformation trend in businesses and reshaped consumer behavior. In particular,
we have seen significant changes to distributed work, entertainment, and services that push value points from physical locations to more
distant endpoints, most often homes.
There
is no geographic limitation to the location of targets, as these types of opportunities are not necessarily bound by geography. We do
believe that there are attractive business combination candidates in East Asia, particularly Japan. There are many growing technology
companies there that are looking to the US for both opportunities and capital. We believe that a US-based company with a listing and
capital would be an ideal fit for one of those companies. Such a connection would unlock value and increase growth opportunities for
the right growing technology company.
We
have existing relationships with a number of growing companies looking for an opportunity to create liquidity for current investors and
currency to acquire other companies. This provides us numerous opportunities and we would be well positioned given the difficulty in
bridging technology and/or capital opportunities between the East and West. Further, we believe that the management team and board member’s
extensive background, careers, reputations, and relationships in cross border business experience gives us the insight and position to
identify the ideal targets for a business combination that creates long-term opportunity and value growth and to complete the business
combination.
We
believe that many of the companies in our target industries understand the risks of delay and uncertainty in their given markets and
would welcome the opportunity to raise capital and have a US public listing sooner. Further, like in many rapidly growing industries,
many of these companies operate in fragmented markets and see an opportunity to consolidate and grow value within their vertical through
acquisition using their publicly traded stock as a currency.
Our
Acquisition Criteria
Our
acquisition philosophy is rooted in several core tenets, consistent with those that have been utilized in the past by members of our
management team as they have evaluated investment opportunities:
|
● |
Large
and Growing Addressable Market: Our management team will prioritize investing in large and growing industries that are poised
for disruption by new technologies. We look for both large problems amenable to technology solutions as well as businesses able to
scale to meet the market. |
|
● |
Proprietary
Technology Advantage: We seek businesses protected by proprietary technology advantages, especially scientific breakthroughs
and intellectual property. We believe that significant technology innovation provides for years of durable, compounding growth and
expanding margins. |
|
● |
Scaling
Business with Compelling Growth Opportunity: While we are primarily focused on the topline growth potential, we will seek to
acquire a company which has achieved sufficient technology and business maturity while still maintaining significant runway to capture
share in a large addressable market. We look for favorable secular trends and attractive unit economics which can be further enhanced
as the business grows. |
|
● |
World
Class Management Teams: We seek to partner with creative and ambitious management teams that have a track record of success to
help them execute their vision. |
Our
Acquisition Process
In
evaluating a potential target business, we expect to conduct a comprehensive due diligence review to seek to determine a company’s
quality and its intrinsic value. That due diligence review may include, among other things, financial statement analysis, detailed document
reviews, technology diligence, multiple meetings with management, consultations with relevant industry and academic experts, competitors,
customers and suppliers, as well as a review of additional information that we will seek to obtain as part of our analysis of a target
company.
We
expect to place significant emphasis on a business combination target’s technology and intellectual property as part of our acquisition
evaluation process, consistent with the investment approach of our management team. This due diligence may include the engagement of
multiple technical experts across both industry and academia to review the technology, participation in joint due diligence meetings
with these technical experts and management, as well as detailed intellectual property due diligence, to determine the nature and quality
of a company’s technology innovation.
We
are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors.
In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors,
we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from either an independent investment banking firm that is a member
of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination
is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. Furthermore, in the event that we seek such a business combination, we expect
that the independent members of our board of directors would be involved in the process for considering and approving the transaction.
Members
of our management team, including our officers and directors, directly or indirectly own our securities following the Initial Public
Offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target company is an appropriate business
with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Each of our officers and directors, as well as our management team, may have
a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination, including if the retention or resignation of any
such officers, directors, and management team members was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect
to such business combination.
Each
of our directors and officers presently have and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations
to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly,
if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or
she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present
such opportunity to such entity. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or
directors will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business
combination.
Our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide 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.
Our
founder, Sponsor, officers, and directors may sponsor, form or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the
period in which we are seeking an initial business combination and their respective participation in any such companies may present additional
conflicts of interest in respect of determining to which such company a particular business combination opportunity should be presented,
particularly in the event there is overlap among the investment mandates of such companies.
Moreover,
because our management team has significant experience in identifying and executing multiple acquisition opportunities simultaneously
and we are not limited by industry or geography in terms of the acquisition opportunities we can pursue, except with respect to our prohibition
from seeking target acquisitions in China and Hong Kong. In addition, our founder, Sponsor, officers, and directors are not required
to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time
among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
Initial
Business Combination
Nasdaq
rules require that we complete one or more initial 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 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.
We
anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares
will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial
business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target
business for the post-acquisition company to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons,
but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as
an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Even
if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders 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 shareholders immediately prior to our
initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination.
If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction
company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets
test. If the initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate
value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes
of a tender offer or for seeking shareholder approval, as applicable.
The
net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the placement units released to us from the trust account upon the closing
of our initial business combination may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete our initial
business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released
from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption
of our public shares, we may use the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account following the closing for general corporate
purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest
due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
In addition, we may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the closing of our initial business combination to
be used following the closing for general corporate purposes as described above.
There
is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances
or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we
would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a
party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities
or otherwise. None of our Sponsors, officers, directors or shareholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with
or after our initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund
our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination.
Our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, following the Initial Public Offering and
prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will be prohibited from issuing additional securities that would
entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account; or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares: (a) on any
initial business combination, or (b) to approve an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum of association to: (x)
extend the time we have to consummate a business combination from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or (y) amend the
foregoing provisions, unless (in connection with any such amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of
association) we offer our public shareholders the opportunity to redeem their public shares.
Status
as a Public Company
We
believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company on February 14, 2023,
we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination
with us. In a business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of
stock, shares or other equity interests in the target business for our Class A ordinary shares (or shares of a new holding company)
or for a combination of our Class A ordinary shares and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the
sellers. 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, that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business
combination with us.
Furthermore,
once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public
offering is always subject to the 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. Once public, we believe the target business
would then have greater access to capital, an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’
interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public company can offer further benefits by augmenting
a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While
we believe that our structure and our management team’s backgrounds 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 shareholder
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 The Jumpstart Our
Business Startups Act (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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved,
If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the
prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In
addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended
transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other
words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of
the completion of the Initial Public Offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion (as adjusted
for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the
market value of our Class A ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700.0 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.
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 any fiscal year for so long as either (1) the market value of our Class
A ordinary shares held by non-affiliates did not equal or exceed $250.0 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues did
not exceed $100.0 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our Class A ordinary shares held by non-affiliates
did not equal or exceed $700.0 million as of the prior June 30.
Financial
Position
With
funds available after our Initial Business Combination initially in the amount of $114,425,000 after payment of $3,450,000 of deferred
underwriting fees, before fees and expenses associated with our Initial Business Combination (other than deferred underwriting fees),
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 leverage ratio. Because were able to complete
our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility
to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs
and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available
to us.
Effecting
our Initial Business Combination
We
are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following the Initial Public
Offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, the private
placements of the placement units, our equity, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business
combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or
in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If
our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt 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
ordinary shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including
for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness
incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We
may need to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination, either because the transaction requires more cash
than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account, or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public
shares upon completion of the initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection
with such business combination. There are no prohibitions on our ability to issue securities or incur debt in connection with our initial
business combination. We are not currently a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any
additional funds through the sale of securities, the incurrence of debt or otherwise.
Sources
of Target Businesses
Our
process of identifying acquisition targets will leverage our Sponsor and our management team’s industry experiences, proven deal
sourcing capabilities and broad and deep network of relationships in numerous industries, including executives and management teams,
private equity groups and other institutional investors, large business enterprises, lenders, investment bankers and other investment
market participants, restructuring advisers, consultants, attorneys and accountants, which we believe should provide us with a number
of business combination opportunities. We expect that the collective experience, capability and network of our Sponsor, our directors
and officers, combined with their individual and collective reputations in the investment community, will help to create prospective
business combination opportunities.
In
addition, we anticipate that target business candidates may be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including
investment bankers and private investment funds. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a
result of being solicited by us through 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 final prospectus for our Initial Public
Offering filed with the SEC and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their respective
affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates of which they become aware 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.
We
also 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. While we do not presently 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 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. In no event,
however, will our Sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s
fee, consulting fee or other compensation by the Company prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion
of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). None of our Sponsor, executive officers or directors,
or any of their respective affiliates, will be allowed to receive any compensation, finder’s fees or consulting fees from a prospective
business combination target in connection with a contemplated acquisition of such target by us.
We
are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors.
In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors,
we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from either an independent investment banking firm that is a member
of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view.
Furthermore, in the event that we seek such a business combination, we expect that the independent members of our board of directors
would be involved in the process for considering and approving the transaction.
Each
of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations
to other entities, including entities that are affiliates of our Sponsor, pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required
to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business
combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he
or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, subject
to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law.
Evaluation
of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq
rules require that we consummate an initial business combination with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market
value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital
purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting commissions). 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 merger and acquisition transactions of comparable businesses. If our board of
directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination (including with the
assistance of financial advisors), 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 operation.
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
valued for purposes of the 80% of fair market value test.
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 as described in more detail in our Registration Statement filed on SEC Form S-1.
In
evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which will encompass, among other things,
meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities,
as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us. If we determine to move
forward with a particular target, we will proceed to structure and negotiate the terms of the initial business combination transaction.
The
time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs
associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification
and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately
completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. The Company
will not pay any consulting fees to members of our management team, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or
in connection with our initial 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. 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. |
Limited
Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although
we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial
business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’s 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 a 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.
Shareholders
May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination
We
may conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our second
amended and restated memorandum of association. However, we will seek shareholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock
exchange rule, or we may decide to seek shareholder approval for business or other reasons.
Under
Nasdaq’s listing rules, shareholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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we issue Class A ordinary shares that will be equal to or in
excess of 20% of the number of our Class A ordinary shares then outstanding (other than in a public offering); |
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any of our directors, officers or substantial shareholders
(as defined by the Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly
or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of ordinary shares
could result in an increase in outstanding ordinary shares or voting power of 5% or more; or |
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the issuance or potential issuance of ordinary shares will
result in our undergoing a change of control. |
The
decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which shareholder approval
is not required by law will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and legal reasons, which include a
variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
● |
the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine
shareholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek shareholder approval or doing so would
place the Company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the Company; |
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the expected cost of holding a shareholder vote; |
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the risk that the shareholders would fail to approve the proposed
business combination; |
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other time and budget constraints of the Company; and |
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additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination
that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to shareholders. |
Permitted
Purchases of Our Securities
If
we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business
combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates
may purchase public 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 or warrants our initial shareholders, directors,
officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules.
However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions
for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of
any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the 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.
Subsequent
to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, we have adopted an insider trading policy which requires insiders to: (i) refrain
from purchasing our securities during certain blackout periods when they are in possession of any material non-public information and
(ii) clear all trades of Company securities with a compliance officer prior to execution. We cannot currently determine whether our insiders
will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as it will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to,
the timing and size of such purchases. Depending on such circumstances, our insiders may either make such purchases pursuant to a Rule
10b5-1 plan or determine that such a plan is not necessary.
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 shareholder 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 warrant holders 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 Class A ordinary
shares 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 any of their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our Sponsor,
officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately-negotiated purchases by either the shareholders contacting us directly or
by our receipt of redemption requests tendered by shareholders 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 shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro
rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted
a proxy with respect to our initial business combination. Such persons would select the shareholders from whom to acquire shares based
on the number of shares available, the negotiated price per share and such other factors as any such person may deem relevant at the
time of purchase. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public shareholder would
receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with 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 respective 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
respective affiliates will not make purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange
Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are
subject to such reporting requirements. Additionally, in the event our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were
to purchase shares or warrants from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule
14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
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our
registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our Sponsor,
directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase shares, rights or warrants from public shareholders outside
the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; |
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if
our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates were to purchase shares or warrants from public shareholders,
they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; |
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our
registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of
our securities purchased by our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates would not be voted in favor of
approving the business combination transaction; |
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our
Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities
or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
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we
would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material
items: |
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the
amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any
of their affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
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the
purpose of the purchases by our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates; |
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the
impact, if any, of the purchases by our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates on the likelihood
that the business combination transaction will be approved; |
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the
identities of our security holders who sold to our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates (if
not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our Sponsor, directors,
executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates; and |
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the
number of our securities for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
Redemption
Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We
will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares upon the completion
of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust
account calculated as of two business days prior to the completion 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, if any, divided by the number of then outstanding
public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially $10.25 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.
The
redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our
Sponsor, directors and each member of our management 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 any public shares held by them in connection with (i) the completion
of our initial business combination and (ii) a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles
of association that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business
combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within the period to consummate
the initial business combination. 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 deferred 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. 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 18-month time period.
We
expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be
funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $950,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure
you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in
the trust account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. 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.
Manner
of Conducting Redemptions
We
will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our
initial business combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or
(ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct
a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction
and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing
requirement or whether we were deemed to be a foreign private issuer (which would require a tender offer rather than seeking shareholder
approval under SEC rules). Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require shareholder approval while direct mergers
with our Company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding ordinary shares or seek
to amend our second amended and restated memorandum of association would require shareholder approval. We currently intend to conduct
redemptions in connection with a shareholder vote unless shareholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing
requirement and we choose to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC for business or other reasons. So long
as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with Nasdaq rules.
If
we held a shareholder vote to approve our initial business combination, we will, pursuant to our second amended and restated memorandum
of association:
● |
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. |
In
the event that we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection
therewith, provide our public shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If
we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares
voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holder 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 shareholders will count towards this quorum and, pursuant
to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, our Sponsor and members of our management team have agreed to vote their founder
shares and any public shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering, in favor of our initial business combination. For
purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding ordinary shares voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval
of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares
irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
These
quorums and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders, may make it more likely that we will complete our
initial business combination. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or
against the proposed transaction or whether they were a shareholder on the record date for the shareholder meeting held to approve the
proposed transaction. In addition, our Sponsor, directors and each member of our management, have entered into a letter agreement with
us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and any public shares held
by them in connection with the completion of a business combination.
If,
however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain shareholder
approval for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our second amended and restated memorandum of association:
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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. |
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 Class A ordinary shares 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, we will not redeem any public shares unless 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 shareholders 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 memorandum and articles of association provide that we may not redeem our public shares unless our net tangible
assets are 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 Class A ordinary shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions
pursuant to the terms of the proposed 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 Class A ordinary shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the
holders thereof.
Limitation
on Redemption upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination If We Seek Shareholder Approval
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with
our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association
provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is
acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from 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 shareholders
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 shareholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15%
of the shares sold in this our without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of shareholders to unreasonably
attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with 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 shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business
combination.
Tendering
Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights
Public
shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,”
will be required to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the proxy solicitation
or tender offer materials, as applicable, mailed to such holders, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using
The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/ Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, in each case up to
two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote to approve the initial business combination. The proxy solicitation or tender
offer materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination
will indicate the applicable delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself
in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public shareholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials
until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the initial vote on the initial business combination if we distribute
proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short
period in which to exercise redemption rights, it is advisable for shareholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There
is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through
the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker a fee of approximately $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 shareholders’ vote on an initial
business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating
such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the initial business combination was approved, the Company would
contact such shareholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder
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 shares 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 shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the general 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 shareholder’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 two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve
the initial business combination, unless otherwise agreed to by us. 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 shareholders who elected to exercise their
redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case,
we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If
our initial proposed business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a business combination with a different
target until 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering
at the election of the Company in six separate one month extensions subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the deposit
of up $379,500 ($0.033 per unit) for each one month extension, into the trust account, or as extended by the Company’s shareholders
in accordance with our second amended and restated memorandum of association).
Redemption
of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Initial Business Combination
Our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we will have only 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering to complete our initial business combination. We may seek an ordinary resolution of the public shareholders for any extension
beyond 12 months at a meeting called for such purpose. Public shareholders will be offered the opportunity to vote on and/or redeem their
shares in connection with the approval of such extension. Alternatively, or in the event that there is an unsuccessful effort to obtain
public shareholder approval for the proposed extensions(s), we may, but are not obligated to, extend the period in which we must complete
our initial business combination six times, for an additional one month each time, up to 18 months by depositing into the trust account
on or prior to the applicable deadline for each one month extension $379,500 ($0.033 per unit in either case). Public shareholders, in
this situation, will not be offered the opportunity to vote on and/or redeem their shares in connection with such extension. If we are
unable to complete our initial business combination within such 12-month period (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to extend such
period, as described in more detail in this Annual Report, or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up,
(ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 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 (which shall be net of taxes payable and 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 shareholders’
rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii)
as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of
directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our obligations under Cayman Islands 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 12-month time period (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to extend such period, as described
in more detail in this Annual Report, or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with our amended and restated
memorandum and articles of association).
Our
Sponsor, directors and each member of our management 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 their founder shares if we do not complete an initial
business combination within 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to extend
such period, as described in more detail in this Annual Report, or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with
our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association). However, if our Sponsor, directors or members of our management team
acquire public shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account
with respect to such public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to extend such period, as described in more detail in this Annual Report, or
as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association).
Our
Sponsor, executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment
to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (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 amended and restated memorandum and articles of association,
prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the
Initial Public Offering (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to extend such period, as described in more detail in this Annual Report,
or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association)
or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless
we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares upon approval of any such amendment at
a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the
funds held in the trust account and not previously released (which shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then outstanding
public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares unless our net tangible assets are 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
expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be
funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $950,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure
you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in
the trust account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. 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 the Initial Public Offering, 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 shareholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.25. 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 shareholders. We cannot
assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders will not be substantially less than $10.25. 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 shareholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders will not
be substantially less than $10.25. 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 will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target
businesses and 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 shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute
such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including
but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the
enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds
held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account,
our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party
that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial
to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include
the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior
to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider
willing to execute a waiver.
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) $10.25 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
$10.25 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) $10.25 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 $10.25 per public share.
We
will seek to reduce the possibility that our Sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring
to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements
with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our Sponsor will also 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. We will have access to up to approximately $950,000 from the proceeds of our Initial Public Offering
and the sale of the placement unit 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, shareholders who received funds from our trust account could
be liable for claims made by creditors
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 shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot
assure you we will be able to return $10.25 per share to our public shareholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an
involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed
under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.”
As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. 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 shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our
public shareholders will be 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 shareholder vote to
amend any provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our
obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or certain amendments to our amended and restated
memorandum and articles of association, prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business
combination within 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to extend such
period, as described in more detail in this Annual Report, or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’
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 within 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (or up to a 18-month period if we choose to
extend such period, as described in more detail in this Annual Report, or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance
with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a shareholder
have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial
business combination, a shareholder’s voting in connection with the initial business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s
redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its redemption
rights as described above. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, like all provisions of
our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended by special resolution.
Competition
In
identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter competition from other
entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout
funds, public companies 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 shareholders 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 executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters, but
they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination.
The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial
business combination and 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.
Periodic
Reporting and Financial Information
We
have registered our Class A ordinary shares and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement
that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, this annual
report contains financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accounting firm.
We
will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation or tender
offer materials, as applicable, sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial
statements may be required 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 target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such statements
in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and 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 acquisition candidate
will have financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above, 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 acquisition 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, 2023, 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 business may not be in compliance with the provisions
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity
to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
We
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 completion of our initial business
combination.
We
are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman
Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act.
As
discussed above, 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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our
securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities
may be more volatile.
In
addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended
transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other
words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of
the completion of the Initial Public Offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion (as adjusted
for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the
market value of our Class A ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700.0 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.
Corporate
Information
Our
executive offices are located at 643 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 and our telephone number is (808) 892-6611.