Risk Factors.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity.
Item 2.
Properties.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Item 6.
[Reserved]
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures.
Item 9B.
Other Information.
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Report (as defined below), including, without limitation, statements under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act (as defined below) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act (as defined below). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. There can be no assurance that actual results will not materially differ from expectations. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our ability to consummate any acquisition or other business combination and any other statements that are not statements of current or historical facts. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including, but not limited to:
our ability to complete an initial business combination, including the Btab Business Combination (as defined below);
our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;
our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;
our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;
the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities;
our pool of prospective target businesses;
the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities;
our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
the lack of a market for our securities;
the use of proceeds not held in the trust account (as defined below) or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; or
our financial performance.
Additionally, the SEC has adopted new rules and regulations for special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”), which became effective on July 1, 2024 (the “2024 SPAC Rules”). The 2024 SPAC Rules require, among other matters, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC sponsors and related persons; (ii) additional disclosures relating to SPAC Business Combination transactions; (iii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in both SPAC initial public offerings and Business Combination transactions; (iv) additional disclosures regarding projections included in SEC filings in connection with proposed Business Combination transactions; and (v) the requirement that both the SPAC and its target company be co-registrants for Business Combination registration statements. In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team in furtherance of such goals. The 2024 SPAC Rules may materially affect our ability to complete our initial Business Combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Future developments affecting us may not be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that
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may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Unless otherwise stated in this Report, or the context otherwise requires, references to:
“2024 SPAC Rules” are to the new rules and regulations for SPACs adopted by the SEC on January 24, 2024, which became effective on July 1, 2024;
“amended and restated memorandum and articles of association” are to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended, that the Company (as defined below) adopted prior to the consummation of our initial public offering (as defined below);
“ASC” are to the FASB (as defined below) Accounting Standards Codification;
“ASU” are to the FASB Accounting Standards Update;
“BDO” are to BDO USA, P.C., our independent registered public accounting firm;
“Btab” are to Btab Ecommerce Group, Inc., a Georgia corporation;
“Btab Business Combination” are to the transactions contemplated by the Btab Business Combination Agreement (as defined below);
“Btab Business Combination Agreement” are to the Business Combination Agreement the Company entered into on August 26, 2024, with IWAC Holding Company Inc., IWAC Purchaser Merger Sub II Inc., IWAC Company Merger Sub Inc. and Btab;
“Btab Registration Statement” are to the Registration Statement on Form S-4, which will include a proxy statement/prospectus to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Btab Business Combination;
“board of directors,” “board” or “directors” are to the board of directors of the Company;
“business combination” are to a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses;
“Class A ordinary shares” are to the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share;
“Class B ordinary shares” are to the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share;
“Companies Act” are to the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands as the same may be amended from time to time;
“Company,” “ IWAC,” “our Company,” “we” or “us” are to Integrated Wellness Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company.
“Continental” are to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, trustee of our trust account and warrant agent of our public warrants (as defined below);
“DWAC System” are to the Depository Trust Company’s Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian System;
iii
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“Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
“FASB” are to the Financial Accounting Standards Board;
“founder shares” are to our Class B ordinary shares initially issued to our prior sponsor (as defined below) in a private placement prior to our initial public offering and including those subsequently transferred to our officers and directors to the extent they hold such shares, and the Class A ordinary shares that will be issued upon the automatic conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination or earlier at the option of the holders thereof (for the avoidance of doubt, such Class A ordinary shares will not be “public shares” (as defined below));
“GAAP” are to the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America;
“IFRS” are to the International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board;
“initial public offering” are to the initial public offering that was consummated by the Company on December 13, 2021;
“initial shareholders” are to all of our shareholders immediately prior to the date of our initial public offering, including our prior sponsor and all of our officers and directors to the extent they hold such shares;
“Investment Company Act” are to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
“JOBS Act” are to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012;
“management” or our “management team” are to our executive officers and directors;
“NYSE” are to the New York Stock Exchange;
“ordinary shares” are to the Class A ordinary shares and the Class B ordinary shares;
“prior sponsor” are to IWH Sponsor LP, a Delaware limited partnership;
“private placement” are to the private placement of warrants that occurred simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering;
“private placement warrants” are to the warrants that were issued to our prior sponsor in the private placement;
“PCAOB” are to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States);
“Pubco” are to IWAC Holding Company Inc., a newly created holding company organized under the laws of Delaware;
“public shares” are to our Class A ordinary shares sold as part of the units (as defined below) in our initial public offering (whether they were purchased in our initial public offering or thereafter in the open market);
“public shareholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial shareholders to the extent our sponsor and/or members of our management team purchase public shares, provided that our initial shareholders’ status as a “public shareholder” only exists with respect to such public shares;
“public warrants” are to the warrants sold as part of the units in our initial public offering (whether they were purchased in our initial public offering or thereafter in the open market);
“IPO Registration Statement” are to the registration statement on Form S-1 initially filed with the SEC on November 3, 2021, as amended, and declared effective on December 8, 2021 (File No. 333-260713);
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“Report” are to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024;
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” are to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
“SEC” are to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
“Securities Act” are to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
“SPACs” are to special purpose acquisition companies;
“sponsor” are to Suntone Investment Pty Ltd , an Australian proprietary limited company;
“trust account” are to the U.S.-based trust account in which a portion of the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the initial public offering and the private placement warrants was placed following the closing of the initial public offering;
“units” are to the units sold in our initial public offering, which consist of one public share and one-half of one public warrant;
“warrants” are to our redeemable warrants, which includes the public warrants as well as the private placement warrants; and
“working capital loans” are to funds that, in order to provide working capital or finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination, the initial shareholders or an affiliate of the initial shareholders or certain of the Company’s directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company.
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PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview
Integrated Wellness Acquisition Corp is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Island exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination. The 2024 SPAC Rules may materially affect our ability to negotiate and complete our initial Business Combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
Initial Public Offering
On December 13, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering of 11,500,000 units. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share for $11.50 per whole share. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $115,000,000.
Simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering, we completed the private sale of an aggregate of 6,850,000 warrants to our prior sponsor at a purchase price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, generating gross proceeds of $6,850,000.
A total of $117,300,000 (equal to $10.20 per unit), comprised of $112,700,000 of the proceeds from our initial public offering and $4,600,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants, was placed in the trust account maintained by Continental, acting as trustee.
Sponsor Handover
On November 8, 2023, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Sponsor Handover”) with IWH Sponsor LP and Sriram Associates, LLC, under which the Prior Sponsor transferred 2,012,500 Class B shares and 4,795,000 private placement warrants for a total purchase price of one dollar. The agreement also initiated a management change by appointing new officers and directors, and Sriram assumed several obligations including costs for a monthly extension, proxy statement filing, public reporting, D&O insurance premiums, legal fees, and certain existing liabilities. By December 31, 2024, a Sriram affiliate had contributed $2,933,387 towards these obligations and Trust Account deposits. The transaction closed on February 1, 2024, when Suntone Investment Pty Ltd, a Sriram designee, acquired the securities and assumed the role of Sponsor.
Btab Business Combination
On May 30, 2024, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Original Business Combination Agreement”) with IWAC Georgia Merger Sub, Inc., a Georgia corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Btab Ecommerce Group, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Btab”).
On August 26, 2024, the Company and Btab entered into an Amended and Restated Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with IWAC Holding Company Inc., a Delaware corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IWAC (“Pubco”), IWAC Purchaser Merger Sub II Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Purchaser Merger Sub”), IWAC Company Merger Sub Inc., a Georgia corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub”), and acknowledging and agreeing solely with respect to Section 2.1(a)(ii) thereof, Binson Lau. The Business Combination Agreement amended, restated and superseded the Original Business Combination Agreement.
The below subsection describes the material provisions of the Btab Business Combination Agreement, but does not purport to describe all the terms thereof. This summary of the Btab Business Combination Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Btab Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated by reference herein. Unless otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms used below have the same meanings given to them in the Btab Business Combination Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, this Report does not assume the closing of the Btab Business Combination.
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Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Business Combination will be effected in two steps. Subject to the approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement by the shareholders of the Company and Btab, on the date of the consummation of the Business Combination and following the domestication: (a) Purchaser Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Purchaser Merger”), with the Company as the surviving company in the Purchaser Merger and, as a result of the Purchaser Merger, the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Pubco with the security holders of the Company receiving securities of Pubco with terms substantially equivalent to the terms of their securities of the Company, and (b) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into Btab (the “Company Merger”), with Btab as the surviving company in the Company Merger and, as a result of the Company Merger, Btab will become a wholly owned Subsidiary of Pubco. Upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Pubco expects to be renamed “Btab Ecommerce Holdings, Inc.”
Pre-Closing Recapitalization and Domestication
At least one day prior to the consummation of the Transactions (the “Closing”), IWAC shall cause each IWAC Class B ordinary share to be converted into one IWAC Class A ordinary share, in accordance with IWAC’s governing documents.
In addition, prior to the Purchaser Merger Effective Time, in order to facilitate the consummation of the Transactions, IWAC shall transfer by way of continuation from the Cayman Islands to Delaware and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and Part XII of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (as amended) (the “Domestication”). In connection with the Domestication, each IWAC Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 (each an “IWAC Class A Ordinary Share”) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Domestication shall become one share of IWAC Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (each an “IWAC Class A Common Share”).
On the Closing Date, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, Btab shall file an amendment to its articles of incorporation (the “Btab Charter Amendment”), which amendment shall, among other things, create a new class of voting common stock with 10,000 votes per share, par value $0.001 (“Btab Class V Shares”). After the effectiveness of the filing of the Btab Charter Amendment, but prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, Binson Lau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Btab, who is also the Chairman of the Board of IWAC, shall exchange (x) all of his shares of Btab preferred stock, $0.001 per share (the “Btab Preferred Shares”) plus (y) such number of shares of Btab common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Btab Common Shares”), as will result in the issuance to Binson Lau of 100,000 Btab Class V Shares. Upon such exchange, all of the Btab Preferred Shares shall be terminated, extinguished and cancelled in full (the transactions in this paragraph above, collectively, the “Btab Reorganization”).
Transaction Consideration
The Transaction consideration to be paid by Pubco to the shareholders of Btab as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (the “Btab Shareholders”) for their Btab Common Shares and their Btab Class V Shares shall be an aggregate amount equal to $250,000,000 (the “IWAC Equity Value”). The Transaction consideration shall be paid solely by Pubco issuing an aggregate of 25,000,000 new shares of common stock to the Btab Shareholders, consisting of 24,900,000 Pubco Class A Common Shares (the “Aggregate Class A Share Consideration”) and 100,000 Pubco Class V Common Shares (the “Aggregate Class V Share Consideration”), with each Pubco Class A Common Share and each Pubco Class V Common Share valued at $10.00 per share.
At the Purchaser Merger Effective Time, (1) each issued and outstanding IWAC Class A Common Share shall be converted automatically into and thereafter represent the right to receive one Pubco Class A Common Share and (2) each issued and outstanding IWAC public warrant shall be converted into one Pubco public Warrant, and each outstanding IWAC private warrant shall be converted into one Pubco private warrant, and each of the Pubco public warrants and Pubco private warrants shall have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the IWAC public warrants and IWAC private warrants, respectively.
At the Company Merger Effective Time, (1) each Btab Common Share (other than (x) the Btab Common Shares that are dissenting shares and (y) treasury shares) issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, shall be automatically canceled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive a number of Pubco Class A Common Shares equal to its pro rata share of the Aggregate Class A Share Consideration, and (2) the BtabClass V Shares (other than (x) the Btab Class V Shares that are dissenting shares and (y) treasury shares) issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, shall be automatically canceled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive the Aggregate Class V Share Consideration.
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Effective upon the Purchaser Merger Effective Time, Pubco will amend and restate its (i) certificate of incorporation in a form reasonably acceptable to the Parties (the “Proposed Charter”) and (ii) bylaws. The Proposed Charter will reflect the change of the corporate name of Pubco to “BTAB Ecommerce Holdings, Inc.” In addition, the Proposed Charter shall include a new class of Pubco voting common stock with 1,000 votes per share, par value $0.0001 (the “Pubco Class V Common Shares”).
Representations and Warranties
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties thereto with respect to, among other things, (i) organization and qualification, (ii) capitalization, (iii) authorization to enter into the Business Combination Agreement, (iv) financial statements, (v) absence of undisclosed liabilities, (vi) approvals and permits, (vii) material contracts, (viii) absence of certain changes, (ix) litigation, (x) compliance with laws, (xi) employee plans, (xii) environmental matters, (xiii) intellectual property, (xiv) labor matters, (xv) insurance, (xvi) taxes, (xvii) brokers, (xviii) real and personal property, (xix) transactions with affiliates, (xx) data privacy, (xxi) customers and suppliers, (xxii) anti-corruption laws, (xxiii) SEC filings and (xxiv) information supplied.
Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement includes customary covenants of the parties with respect to the operation of their respective businesses during the period after the date of the Business Combination Agreement and prior to consummation of the Mergers and their respective efforts to consummate the Mergers. The Business Combination Agreement also contains additional covenants of the parties, including, among others, (i) covenants providing for Pubco, IWAC and Btab to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement (required to be filed in connection with the Transactions), (ii) covenants for IWAC to hold a meeting of its shareholders to vote on, among other things, the approval of the Business Combination Agreement and the Merger, (iii) covenants for Btab to obtain the Shareholder Support Agreements, and (iv) covenants for Btab to obtain and deliver the written consent of the Btab shareholders (the “Btab Shareholder Written Consent”).
Pubco Equity Incentive Plan
Upon the Company Merger Effective Time, Pubco will adopt, subject to the receipt of the requisite approval of IWAC’s shareholders, the Incentive Plan, in the form as IWAC and Btab shall mutually agree, which plan shall reserve for grant thereunder a number of Pubco Class A Common Shares equal to twenty percent (20%) of Pubco’s post-closing fully diluted equity. The Incentive Plan will also have a customary evergreen provision.
Btab Exclusivity Restrictions
During the period between the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the earlier of (x) the Closing or (y) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms, Btab has agreed not to, among other things, (i) solicit, initiate, seek, entertain, encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), facilitate, endorse, recommend, accept, discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (whether formal or informal, written, oral or otherwise) with respect to a Company Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or provide any non-public information or documents to any person in connection with, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into, participate in or continue in any discussions or negotiations with any third party in connection with or related to, or approve, accept, or enter into any letter of intent, term sheet or Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding, any Company Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare, submit, file or take any steps in connection with a public or other offering or sale of any equity securities of any Group Company (or any Affiliate, current or future parent entity or successor of any Group Company), including making any filings or confidential submissions to the SEC related thereto; (v) consummate any Company Acquisition Proposal or (vi) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any person to do or seek to do any of the items set forth above. As of the date of the Business Combination Agreement, Btab will (A) terminate, and cause each of its parent entities, affiliates and subsidiaries, and its and their representatives to terminate, any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any party other than IWAC and its affiliates regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal, (B) notify IWAC promptly upon receipt of any Company Acquisition Proposal by any Group Company or affiliate or any officer, director, equity holder, employee or other representative, and to describe the material terms and conditions of any such Company Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of the persons making such Company Acquisition Proposal) and to provide a copy of any such Company Acquisition Proposal, if extended in writing, and (C) keep IWAC reasonably informed on a current basis of any modifications to such offer or information.
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IWAC Exclusivity Restrictions
During the period between the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the earlier of (x) the Closing or (y) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms, IWAC has agreed not to, among other things, (i) solicit, initiate, encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), facilitate, discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a Purchaser Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any person in connection with, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Purchaser Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into any contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding a Purchaser Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with an offering of any securities of any IWAC party (or any Affiliate or successor of IWAC); or (v) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any person to do or seek to do any of the items set forth above. IWAC agrees to (a) notify Btab promptly upon receipt of any Purchaser Acquisition Proposal by IWAC, and to describe the material terms and conditions of any such Purchaser Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of any person or entity making such IWAC Acquisition Proposal) and (b) keep Btab reasonably informed on a current basis of any modifications to such offer or information.
IWAC Change in Recommendation
IWAC is required to include in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement the recommendation of IWAC’s board of directors (the “IWAC Board”) to IWAC’s shareholders that they approve the Transaction Proposals relating to the Transactions (the “IWAC Board Recommendation”), except in the case of a Change in Recommendation. The IWAC Board shall be permitted to withdraw or modify the IWAC Board Recommendation (a “Change in Recommendation”) if the IWAC Board determines that a failure to make a Change in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations
The obligations of IWAC, Merger Sub and Btab to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, including, but not limited to, (i) the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act relating to the Transactions having expired or been terminated, (ii) the absence of any governmental order or law restraining, prohibiting or making illegal the consummation of the Transactions, (iii) the approval of IWAC’s shareholders of the Transaction Proposals, (iv) the approval of Btab’s shareholders of the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger), (v) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and (vi) IWAC having at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets as of immediately after the Effective Time.
The obligation of IWAC and Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of other closing conditions, including, but not limited to, (i) the representations and warranties of Btab being true and correct to the standards applicable to such representations and warranties, (ii) each of the covenants of Btab required to be completed at or prior to the Closing having been performed or complied with in all material respects, (iii) the absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect, (iv) the Btab Reorganization being completed, and (v) the delivery of customary closing certificates and transaction documents.
The obligation of Btab to consummate the Transactions is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of other closing conditions, including, but not limited to, (i) the representations and warranties of IWAC and Merger Sub being true and correct to the standards applicable to such representations and warranties, (ii) each of the covenants of IWAC required to be completed at or prior to the Closing having been performed or complied with in all material respects, (iii) the approval by the New York Stock Exchange of the listing of the Pubco Shares to be issued in connection with the Mergers, (iv) the Domestication having been consummated on the Closing Date prior to the Purchaser Merger Effective Time, and (v) the delivery of customary closing certificates and transaction documents.
If permitted under applicable law, either IWAC or Btab may waive in writing any conditions for the benefit of itself contained in the Business Combination Agreement. If any of the conditions to a party’s obligation to consummate the applicable Merger is not satisfied or waived in writing by such party, then such party will not be required to consummate such Merger.
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated under certain customary and limited circumstances prior to the Closing, including, but not limited to:
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by mutual written consent of IWAC and Btab;
by IWAC, if Btab breaches its representations, warranties and covenants in the Business Combination Agreement such that the closing conditions would not be satisfied (subject to a cure period);
(iii)
by Btab, if IWAC breaches its representations, warranties and covenants in the Business Combination Agreement such that the closing conditions would not be satisfied (subject to a cure period);
subject to certain limited exceptions, by either IWAC or Btab if the Merger is not consummated by the date that is the last date for IWAC to consummate its initial business combination in accordance with its governing documents (after giving effect to any Charter Extension Amendments);
by either IWAC or Btab, if the requisite approval by IWAC shareholders of the Required Purchaser Shareholder Approval was not obtained;
by either IWAC or Btab, if a governmental order permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions is issued and becomes final and non-appealable; and
(vii)
by IWAC, if Btab does not deliver the Btab Shareholder Written Consent within two (2) Business Days following the date the Registration Statement is declare effective.
If the Business Combination Agreement is validly terminated, none of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement will have any liability or any further obligation under the Business Combination Agreement other than customary confidentiality obligations, except in the case of Willful Breach or Fraud (each as defined in the Business Combination Agreement).
Our Acquisition Criteria
Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In evaluating a prospective target business, we conduct a due diligence review which encompasses, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors or officers, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, directors or officers. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, directors or officers, such as Btab, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Each of our sponsor, directors, and officers directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement warrants and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, such officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Past experience or performance of our sponsor, directors or management team or their respective affiliates, including performance information of funds with which they are or were associated, is not a guarantee of success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our sponsor, directors or management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance.
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 pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity subject to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law. As a result, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware
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of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under applicable law, he or she may need to honor such fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity before we can pursue such opportunity. If these other entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing the same. However, we do not expect these duties to materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer on the one hand, and us, on the other.
Our officers and directors and any of their respective affiliates may sponsor or form, or, in the case of individuals, serve as a director, officer or advisor of, other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we conduct a thorough due diligence review that encompasses, among other things, meetings with current management and employees, document reviews, consumer research, as well as a review of financial, legal, tax, and other information that is made available to us. We also utilize our operational experience to validate opportunities for strategic growth.
Our selection process has resulted in us pursuing the Btab Business Combination. Members of our management team and our independent directors directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement warrants and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business, such as Btab, is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Initial Business Combination
So long as our securities are then listed on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% of net assets threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our shareholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to shareholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
We have filed a registration statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to 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 suspending or terminating our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-business combination 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,
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structure our initial business combination such that the post-business combination company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding share capital of a target or issue a substantial number of new shares to third-parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. In this case, we would acquire a 100% 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-business combination 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 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. If our securities are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net asset 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.
Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure as a public company makes us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, 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 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, 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 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 and other strategic transactions. 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.
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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) (a) December 31, 2026, (b) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues equals or exceeds $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination in the amount of approximately $14,215,318 as of December 31, 2024, representing the amount held in the trust account (and not yet reduced by the $4,025,000 of deferred underwriting fees), but including the $5,141 of offering proceeds held outside the trust account as of December 31, 2024, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, there can be no assurance third-party financing will be available to us.
See “Btab Business Combination” above for more information on the equity and financing arrangements in connection with the Btab Business Combination.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations until we consummate our initial business combination. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of our initial public offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to banks or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing or other sources. 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 funded using equity consideration or the proceeds of any equity or debt financing, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business
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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-business combination 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.
Although our management seeks to assess the risks inherent in target businesses with which we may combine, we cannot assure you that this assessment will result in our identifying all risks that a target business may encounter. Furthermore, some of those risks may be outside of our control, meaning that we can do nothing to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely affect a target business.
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 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
Target business candidates are brought to our attention from various affiliated and unaffiliated sources, including, investment market participants, private equity groups, investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. Target businesses are 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 some of these sources will have read our prospectus in connection with our initial public offering or this Report and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates and other affiliated sources may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors. We may engage the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions, 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 their respective affiliates be paid by us any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation 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). We have agreed to pay our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative support and reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-business combination company following our initial business combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor or any of our sponsor, officers or directors, such as Btab, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
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 and other 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. In addition, the fiduciary duties and contractual obligations that our
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officers and directors may have to other entities, including confidentiality obligations that may restrict their ability to share with us or utilize on our behalf information they learn that could be beneficial to us, may otherwise adversely affect our ability to identify or pursue certain business combination opportunities. At this time, none of our officers or directors have any such confidentiality obligations but they may have them in the future.
In recent years, the number of SPACs that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for SPACs have already entered into an initial business combination, and, as of the date of this Report, there are many SPACs seeking targets for their initial business combination. As a result, at times, we expect there to be greater competition for available targets, more time, more effort and more resources may be necessary to identify a suitable target, and consummating an initial business combination may be more expensive.
Evaluation of a Target Business and Structuring of Our Initial Business Combination
In evaluating a prospective target business, we conduct an extensive due diligence review which encompasses, as applicable and among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities and a review of financial and other information about the target and its industry. We also utilize our management team’s operational and capital planning experience. If we determine to move forward with a particular target, we will proceed to structure and negotiate the terms of the business combination transaction.
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. We will not pay any consulting fees to members of our management team, or their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or in connection with our initial business combination. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
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:
subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industries in which we operate after our initial business combination; and
cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business, including the management team of Btab, 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 officers 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.
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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 and subject to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. However, we will seek shareholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement (as is the case with the Btab Business Combination as currently contemplated), or we may decide to seek shareholder approval for business or other reasons.
Under the NYSE’s listing rules, shareholder approval would typically be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
We issue ordinary shares that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of our ordinary shares then-outstanding (other than in a public offering);
Any of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by the NYSE 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 shares of our ordinary shares could result in an increase in outstanding ordinary shares or voting power of 5% or more; or
The issuance or potential issuance of ordinary shares will result in our undergoing a change of control.
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 applicable law or stock exchange rule will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and 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;
the expected cost of holding a shareholder vote;
the risk that the shareholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;
other time and budget constraints of the Company; and
additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to shareholders.
See “Btab Businss Combination” above for more information on the requisite approvals in connection with the Btab Business Combination.
Permitted Purchases and Other Transactions with Respect to 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, directors, executive officers or their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, executive officers or their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to
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engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.
The purpose of any such transaction could be to (i) vote in favor of our initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination, (ii) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (iii) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares or public warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders (in the case of Class A ordinary shares) following our mailing of tender offer or proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already been voted at the general meeting related to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, executive officers, directors or their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase shares from based on the negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5of the Exchange Act. We expect any such purchases would be reported by such person pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
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 consummation of the initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any, divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. As of December 31, 2024, the amount in the trust account was approximately $11.99 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. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Further, we will not proceed with redeeming our public shares, even if a public shareholder has properly elected to redeem its shares, if a business combination does not close. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. In addition, our sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant
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to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and 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 (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the deadline set fourth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares.
See “Btab Business Combinaion” above for more information on redemptions in connection with the Btab Business Combination.
Limitations on Redemptions
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). However, the proposed business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all Class A ordinary shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceeds the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all Class A ordinary shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
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 either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. Except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or 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 issued and outstanding ordinary shares or seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would typically require shareholder approval. We intend to conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to seek shareholder approval for business or other reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, we will be required to comply with the NYSE rules.
If we held a shareholder vote to approve our initial business combination, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles 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
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 of our initial business combination, we will complete our initial business combination only if we obtain the approval of an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company (unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock
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exchange rules). In such case, our sponsor and each member of our management team have agreed to vote their founder shares and public shares in favor of our initial business combination. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or vote at all. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. In addition, our sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and 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 (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares.
If we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association:
conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and
file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase Class A ordinary shares in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a)under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public shareholders not tendering more than the number of public shares we are permitted to redeem. If public shareholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination.
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination If We Seek Shareholder Approval
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering, which we refer to as “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. 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 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. Absent this provision, a public shareholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us, our sponsor or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By imposing such limitations on our shareholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering without our prior consent, as described above, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of shareholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash.
However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
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Tendering Share 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 DWAC System, at the holder’s option, in each case up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote to approve the 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 business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the 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 nominal fee 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.
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 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 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 business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming shareholders’ election to redeem is irrevocable once the 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 initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the 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.
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Extension of Time to Complete Business Combination
We originally had 15 months from the consummation of our initial public offering, or until March 13, 2023, to consummate our initial business combination. However, as requested by our prior sponsor and as permitted under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the trust agreement entered into between us and Continental, in March 2023 we extended the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination by an additional three months until June 13, 2023.
On June 2, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “June Meeting”). At the June Meeting, a proposal to amend by special resolution the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended (the “First Charter Amendment”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination from June 13, 2023 to December 13, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors in its sole discretion) was approved. The Company extended the date by which it must consummate an initial business combination until December 13, 2023.
On December 11, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders (the “December 2023 Meeting”). At the December 2023 Meeting, a proposal to amend by special resolution the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended (the “Second Charter Amendment”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination from December 13, 2023 to December 13, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors in its sole discretion) was approved.
On December 11, 2024, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders (the “December 2024 Meeting”). At the December 2024 Meeting, a proposal to amend by special resolution the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended (the “Third Charter Amendment”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination from December 13, 2024 to December 15, 2025 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors in its sole discretion) was approved. The Company extended the date by which it must consummate an initial business combination by an additional twelve months until December 15, 2025.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation If No Initial Business Combination
Under our current amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we have until December 15, 2025 to consummate an initial business combination. If we have not consummated an initial business combination by such time, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case 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 consummate an initial business combination by December 15, 2025. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, if we wind up for any other reason prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the trust account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to applicable Cayman Islands law.
Our sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to consummate an initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame).
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 (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial
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business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become 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, we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of our public shares at such time. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our sponsor, any executive officer, director, director nominee or any other person.
If we do not consummate an initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, 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 $5,141 held outside the trust account as of December 31, 2024, plus up to $100,000 of funds from the trust account available to us to pay dissolution expenses, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, based on the amount in the trust account as of December 31, 2024 the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $11.99 (before taking into account the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any, and of up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses). 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 less than $11.99. 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 seek to have all vendors, service providers (except 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. The representative of the underwriters will not execute an agreement with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, 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 (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.20 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 $10.20 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third-party or prospective target business that executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the representative of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our Company and, therefore, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set
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aside to cover any such obligations. None of our other officers 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 the lesser of (i) $10.20 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 $10.20 per public share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations, 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 in any particular instance. 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 $10.20 per public share.
We have sought and will continue to 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 (except our independent registered public accounting firm), 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. 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. However, such liability will not be greater than the amount of funds from our trust account received by any such shareholder. As of December 31, 2024, the amount held outside the trust account was $5,141.
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 $11.99 per public 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,” a “fraudulent conveyance” or a “voidable transfer.” 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 and/or may have acted in bad faith by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims seeking damages, including potential punitive damages. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
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Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, (ii) in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares, or (iii) if they redeem their respective shares for cash upon the completion of the initial business combination. Public shareholders who redeem their Class A ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote described in clause (ii) in the preceding sentence shall not be entitled to funds from the trust account upon the subsequent completion of an initial business combination or liquidation if we have not consummated an initial business combination by the deadline set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, with respect to such Class A ordinary shares so redeemed. 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 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 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 with a shareholder vote.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we are encountering intense and increasing 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, operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. 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 us. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses is limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with 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.
Human Capital
We currently have one executive officer. This individual is not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but he devotes as much of his time as he deems necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time he devotes in any time period varies based on the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
Our units, Class A ordinary shares, and warrants are registered under the Exchange Act, and as a result, we have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports, including this Report, contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
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. 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
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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 are required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the year ending December 31, 2024 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Until we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. 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 have filed a registration statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to 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 suspending or terminating our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation 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 an exempted company, we have applied for and received a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the 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) (a) December 31, 2026, (b) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30 th , 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 the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
As a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to include risk factors in this Report.
