DigiAsia risk analysis
DigiAsia (FAASF) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q4, 2023
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Dec 31, 2023, filed Apr 16, 2024
Risk Change Over Time
- Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, related to accounting and valuation for complex financial instruments as a result of the change in classification of all our redeemable Class A ordinary shares as temporary equity, recording of fair value in excess of sale of private warrants, and the recognition of an over-allotment liability as a derivative at the time of our IPO. In addition, we identified a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting related to incomplete accounting for accruals. These material weaknesses could continue to adversely affect our ability to report our results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely manner.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our management is likewise required, on a quarterly basis, to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal controls and to disclose any changes and material weaknesses identified through such evaluation in those internal controls. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to the accounting and valuation for complex financial instruments as a result of the change in classification of all of our redeemable Class A ordinary shares as temporary equity, recording of fair value in excess of sale of private warrants, and the recognition of an over-allotment liability as a derivative. In addition, we have identified a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting related to incomplete accounting for accruals. As a result of these material weaknesses, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2023. To respond to these material weaknesses, we have devoted, and plan to continue to devote, significant effort and resources to the remediation and improvement of our internal control over financial reporting. While we have processes to identify and appropriately apply applicable accounting requirements, we plan to enhance these processes to better evaluate our research and understanding of the nuances of the complex accounting standards that apply to our financial statements. The elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time, and we can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. Any failure to maintain such internal control could adversely impact our ability to report our financial position and results from operations on a timely and accurate basis. If our financial statements are not accurate, investors may not have a complete understanding of our operations. Likewise, if our financial statements are not filed on a timely basis, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the stock exchange on which our ordinary shares are listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. In either case, there could result a material adverse effect on our business. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our securities. We can give no assurance that the measures we have taken and plan to take in the future will remediate the material weakness identified or that any additional material weaknesses or restatements of financial results will not arise in the future due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of these controls. In addition, even if we are successful in strengthening our controls and procedures, in the future those controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities or errors or to facilitate the fair presentation of our financial statements.
- Debt & Financing - Risk 2If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 36 months (as extended) following the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, we may be unable to complete an initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 36 months (as extended) following the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, assuming that an initial business combination is not completed during that time. We expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management's plans to address this need for capital through the IPO and potential loans from certain of our affiliates are discussed in the section of this Form 10-K titled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." However, our affiliates are not obligated to make loans to us in the future, and we may not be able to raise additional financing from unaffiliated parties necessary to fund our expenses. Any such event in the future may negatively impact the analysis regarding our ability to continue as a going concern at such time. We cannot assure our shareholders that he funds available to us outside of the trust account, will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 36 months (as extended) following the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a "no- shop" provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from "shopping" around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.31 per share (or less in certain circumstances) on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In such case, our public shareholders may only receive $10.31 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.31 per share on the redemption of their shares. See "- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.31 per share" and other risk factors herein.
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) of the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, our public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond such time period before redemption from our trust account.
If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) from the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (less up to $100,000 of the net interest earned thereon to pay dissolution expenses), pro rata to our public shareholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein. Any redemption of public shareholders from the trust account shall be effected automatically by function of our Articles of Association prior to any voluntary winding up. If we are required to windup, liquidate the trust account and distribute such amount therein, pro rata, to our public shareholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the "Companies Act"). In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond the initial 36 months (as extended) before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless we consummate an initial business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their ordinary shares. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public shareholders be entitled to distributions if we are unable to complete an initial business combination.
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 4We may not be able to consummate an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) after the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public shareholders may only receive $10.31 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we must complete an initial business combination within 36 months (as applicable) from the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, and we may not be able to find a suitable target business and consummate an initial business combination within such time period. In addition, if we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate an initial business combination within 36 months from the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, our Sponsor or its affiliates or designees may, but are not obligated to, seek an extension of the period of time to consummate a business combination subject to shareholder approval, as described in more detail in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our ability to complete an initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets, new rulemaking from the SEC (including the SEC's proposed rules to enhance disclosure and investor protection relating to special purpose acquisition companies, shell companies, and projections, dated March 30, 2022) and the other risks described herein, including as a result of terrorist attaches, natural disasters, or a significant outbreak of infectious diseases. For example, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to grow and, while the extent of the impact of the conflict on us will depend on future developments, it could limit our ability to complete our initial business combination, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire. If we have not completed an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) from the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders' rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, 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. In such case, our public shareholders may only receive $10.31 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.31 per share on the redemption of their shares. See "- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.31 per share." and other risk factors herein.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2023
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 105
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1We are an "emerging growth company" and a "smaller reporting company" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an "emerging growth company" within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may 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 internal controls 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 nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year's second quarter, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year end. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile. Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used. Additionally, we are a "smaller reporting company" as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. 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 end of that year's second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year's second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2Our public shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete an initial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination.
We may not hold a shareholder vote to approve an initial business combination unless the business combination would require shareholder approval under applicable Cayman Islands law or the rules of the Nasdaq or if we decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons. Examples of transactions that would not ordinarily require shareholder approval include asset acquisitions and share purchases, while transactions such as direct mergers with our company or transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares would require shareholder approval. For instance, the Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a shareholder meeting but would still require us to obtain shareholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares, we would seek shareholder approval of such business combination. Except as required by law or Nasdaq rules, the decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in 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 otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. Accordingly, we may consummate an initial business combination even if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares do not approve of the business combination we consummate.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3Our shareholders only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of their right to redeem their shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of such business combination.
Since our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such shareholder approval. Accordingly, if we do not seek shareholder approval, our shareholders only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising their redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public shareholders in which we describe an initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4The ability of our public shareholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public shareholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5The ability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for an initial business combination, we will not know how many shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore we will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If an initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third party financing. Raising additional third party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B ordinary shares result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B shares at the time of the initial business combination. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to shareholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions and after such redemptions, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming shareholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6The ability of our public shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that an initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that our shareholders would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem their shares.
If an initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that an initial business combination would be unsuccessful increases. If an initial business combination is unsuccessful, our shareholders would not receive their pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If our shareholders are in need of immediate liquidity, they could attempt to sell their shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, our shareholders may suffer a material loss on their investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or our shareholders are able to sell their shares in the open market.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7If we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisers, and their respective affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or public warrants from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public "float" of our securities.
If we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with an initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisers, or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants or a combination thereof in privately-negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of an initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public shareholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with an initial business combination. Additionally at any time at or prior to an initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective 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 an initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisers, or any of their respective affiliates are under no obligation or duty to do so, and they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such purchases or other transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions of such purchasers or other transactions. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisers, or their respective affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of an initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of an initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of an initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. These purchases may result in the completion of an initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to reporting requirements. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public "float" of our Class A ordinary shares or public warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8If we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination, our Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
Our Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed (and their permitted transferees are required to agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote any Founder Shares and any public shares held by them in favor of an initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the Founder Shares held by our initial purchasers, we would need only 7,500,001, or approximately 37.5%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in the IPO to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted) in order to have an initial business combination approved. Our initial shareholder beneficially owned shares representing approximately 20.0% of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares immediately following the completion of the IPO and the private placement. Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination, the agreement by our initial shareholder to vote in favor of our business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the necessary shareholder approval for such business combination than would be the case if such persons agreed to vote their Founder Shares and any public shares held by them in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public shareholders. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our Sponsor.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment bank or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently, our shareholders may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for a business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our business combination with an affiliated entity, or our board of directors cannot independently determine the fair market value of a target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion that the price we pay for a target is fair to our company from a financial point of view from (i) an independent investment banking firm, (ii) another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we seek to acquire, or (iii) an independent accounting firm. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to an initial business combination. However, if our board of directors is unable to determine the fair value of an entity with which we seek to complete an initial business combination based on such standards, we will be required to obtain an opinion as described above.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 10Since only holders of our Founder Shares have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to an initial business combination, Nasdaq may consider us to be a "controlled company" within the meaning of Nasdaq's rules and, as a result, we may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that would otherwise provide protection to shareholders of other companies.
Only holders of our Founder Shares have the right to vote on the election of directors. As a result, Nasdaq may consider us to be a "controlled company" within the meaning of Nasdaq's corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq's corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, a group or another company is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that: - we have a board that includes a majority of "independent directors," as defined under Nasdaq rules;- we have a compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee's purpose and responsibilities; and - we have independent director oversight of our director nominations. We do not intend to utilize these exemptions and intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq, subject to applicable phase-in rules. However, if we determine in the future to utilize some or all of these exemptions, our shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaq's corporate governance requirements.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 11We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete a business combination with which a substantial majority of our shareholders do not agree.
Our Articles of Association will not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. As a result, we may be able to complete an initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public shareholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with an initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our Sponsor, directors, officers, or their respective affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all 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 exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, all ordinary shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 12In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments. We cannot assure our shareholders that we will not seek to further amend our Articles of Association or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete an initial business combination that our shareholders may not support.
In order to effectuate a business combination, blank check companies have, in the past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the period of time in which it had to consummate a business combination. We cannot assure our shareholders that we will not seek to amend our Articles of Association or governing instruments or extend the time in which we have to consummate a business combination through amending our Articles of Association, which will require at least a special resolution of our shareholders as a matter of Cayman Islands law. As described in further detail above in Item 1-Business, on January 20, 2023, StoneBridge held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, pursuant to which, the Company's shareholders approved, by special resolution, the proposal to amend the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to give the Company the right to extend the date by which it has to consummate a business combination from January 20, 2023 up to 6 times for an additional one (1) month each time up to July 20, 2023 (i.e., for a period of time ending up to 24 months after the consummation of its initial public offering).
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 13The provisions of our Articles of Association that relate to our pre-initial business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account), including an amendment to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated, may be amended with the approval of holders of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares who attend and vote in a general meeting, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our Articles of Association and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our shareholders may not support.
Our Articles of Association provide that any of its provisions, including those related to pre-initial business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of the IPO into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public shareholders as described herein and in our Articles of Association or an amendment to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated), but excluding the provision of the articles relating to the appointment and removal of directors, may be amended if approved by holders of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares who attend and vote in a general meeting, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our ordinary shares. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our Articles of Association. Our Sponsor, which collectively beneficially owned approximately 20.0% of our ordinary shares following the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO (assuming it did not purchase any units in the IPO), will participate in any vote to amend our Articles of Association and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it chooses. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our Articles of Association which will govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a business combination with which our shareholders do not agree. Our shareholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our Articles of Association.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 14Certain agreements related to the IPO may be amended without shareholder approval.
Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to the IPO, the investment management trust agreement between us and CST registration rights agreement between us and our Sponsor, the administrative services agreement between us and our Sponsor, may be amended without shareholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public shareholders might deem to be material. For example, the underwriting agreement related to the IPO, contains a covenant that the target company that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the trust account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the transaction with such target business (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the Nasdaq. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to an initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination. Any such amendment may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 15We may issue our shares to investors in connection with an initial business combination at a price that is less than the prevailing market price of our shares at that time.
In connection with an initial business combination, we may issue shares to investors in private placement transactions (so-called PIPE transactions) at a price of $10.00 per share or which approximates the per-share amounts in our trust account at such time, which is generally approximately $10.31. The purpose of such issuances will be to enable us to provide sufficient liquidity to the post-business combination entity. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 16We may engage the underwriter or its affiliates to provide additional services to us after the IPO, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. The underwriter is entitled to receive deferred commissions that will released from the trust only on a completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause the underwriter to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage the underwriter or its affiliates to provide additional services to us, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing financial advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing. We may pay the underwriter or its affiliates fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm's length negotiation. The underwriter is also entitled to receive a deferred commission relating to the IPO that is conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The fact that the underwriter or its affiliates' financial interests are tied to the consummation of a business combination transaction may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in providing any such additional services to us, including potential conflicts of interest in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 17If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.31 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent auditors), 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, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not 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 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 enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver only if management believes that such third party's engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with an initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public shareholders could be less than the $10.31 per public share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.31 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, 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 have not independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsor's only assets are securities of our company. Our Sponsor may not have sufficient funds available to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set aside to cover any such obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for an initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.31 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete an initial business combination, and our shareholders would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of their public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 18Our warrant agreement designates the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the exclusive forums for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdictions, which jurisdictions shall be the exclusive forums for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdictions and that such courts represent inconvenient forums. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or a foreign action, in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions, or an enforcement action, and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder's counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder. The choice-of-forum provision in our warrant agreement may (1) result in increased costs for investors to bring a claim or (2) limit a warrant holder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors. We note that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 19Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our Sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.31 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its 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. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders may be reduced below $10.31 per share.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 20If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy or insolvency court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a "preferential transfer" or a "fraudulent conveyance." As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover all amounts received by our shareholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 21If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our shareholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws, 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 or insolvency claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 22Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
If we are forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. As a result, a liquidator could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to us or our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing themselves and our company to claims, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure our shareholders that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. We and our officers and directors who knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted any distribution to be paid out of our share premium account while we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business would be guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine of up to $18,293 and to imprisonment for up to five years in the Cayman Islands.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 23We may not hold an annual general meeting until after the consummation of an initial business combination. Our public shareholders will not have the right to appoint directors prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual general meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on the Nasdaq. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual general meetings in order to appoint directors. Until we hold an annual general meeting, public shareholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with management. In addition, as holders of our Class A ordinary shares, our public shareholders will not have the right to vote on the appointment or removal of directors prior to consummation of an initial business combination. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of shareholders) serving a 3-year term.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 24The grant of registration rights to our Sponsor and the underwriters may make it more difficult to complete an initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A ordinary shares.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in the IPO, our Sponsor, the underwriters, and their respective permitted transferees can demand that we register the offer and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon their exercise), and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares after the Founder Shares convert to our Class A ordinary shares at the time of an initial business combination. We will bear the cost of registering the offer and sale of these securities. The registration and availability of the offer and sale of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make an initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. Shareholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares that is expected when the ordinary shares owned by our Sponsor, officers and directors or holders of our Working Capital Loans (as defined below) or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 25If a shareholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with an initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with an initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a shareholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such shareholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 26Our shareholders will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate their investment, therefore, our shareholders may be forced to sell their public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of an initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our Articles of Association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) from the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders' rights or pre-business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) from the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. Holders of warrants will not have any right to proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate their investment, our shareholders may be forced to sell their public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 27The Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
Our units, warrants and Class A ordinary shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq. Although we have meet the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the Nasdaq listing standards, we cannot assure our shareholders that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on the Nasdaq in the future or prior to an initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on the Nasdaq prior to an initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum amount in shareholders' equity (generally $2,500,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 public holders, with at least 50% of such round lot holders holding securities with a market value of at least $2,500). Additionally, in connection with an initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on the Nasdaq. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and our shareholders' equity would generally be required to be at least $5.0 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 300 round lot holders of our securities. We cannot assure our shareholders that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. If the Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the- counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including: - a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;- reduced liquidity for our securities;- a determination that our Class A ordinary shares are a "penny stock" which will require brokers trading in our Class A ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;- a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and - a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as "covered securities." Because our units, our Class A ordinary shares and warrants are listed on the Nasdaq, our units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants are covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on the Nasdaq, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities, including in connection with an initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 28Our shareholders are not entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of the IPO are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that is being identified, we may be deemed to be a "blank check" company under the United States securities laws. However, because we have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete an initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if our IPO were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 29If we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if our shareholders or a "group" of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A ordinary shares, they will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A ordinary shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of an initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with an initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Articles of Association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a "group" (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO, which we refer to as the "Excess Shares." However, we would not be restricting our shareholders' ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against an initial business combination. Our shareholders' inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete an initial business combination and our shareholders could suffer a material loss on their investment in us if they sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, our shareholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete an initial business combination. And as a result, our shareholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell their shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 30Our Sponsor will control the appointment of our board of directors until consummation of an initial business combination and hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, they will appoint all of our directors and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that our shareholders do not support.
Upon the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO, our Sponsor owned approximately 20.0% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming they have not purchased any units since the IPO). In addition, the Founder Shares entitle the Sponsor to appoint all of our directors prior to an initial business combination. Holders of our public shares have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of directors during such time. These provisions of our Articles of Association may only be amended by a special resolution passed by at least 90% of our ordinary shares voting in a general meeting. As a result, our shareholders will not have any influence over the appointment or removal of directors prior to an initial business combination. Neither our Sponsor nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this Form 10-K. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. In addition, as a result of its substantial ownership in our company, our Sponsor may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that our shareholders do not support, including amendments to our Articles of Association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our Sponsor purchases any additional ordinary shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over these actions. In addition, our board of directors, whose members are elected by our Sponsor, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of an initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our "staggered" board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial shareholder, because of its ownership position, will control the outcome, as only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the election of directors and to remove directors prior to an initial business combination. Accordingly, our Sponsor will exert significant influence over actions requiring a shareholder vote at least until the completion of an initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 31Our Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per founder share, and, accordingly, our shareholders experience immediate and substantial dilution upon the purchase of our Class A ordinary shares.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the ordinary shares and none to the warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per Class A ordinary share after the IPO constitutes the dilution to our shareholders and the other investors in our shares. Our Sponsor acquired the Founder Shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO and assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units, our public shareholders incurred an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 93.9% (or $9.39), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.61 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. This dilution will increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B ordinary shares result in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at the time of an initial business combination. In addition, because of the anti-dilution protection in the Founder Shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with an initial business combination will be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A ordinary shares.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 32We are not registering the offer and sale of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.
We are not registering the offer and sale of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of an initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file, and within 60 business days following an initial business combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the offer and sale of such shares and maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. We cannot assure our shareholders that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the offer and sale of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not registered under the Securities Act, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption is available. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the offer and sale of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of an initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A ordinary shares are, at the time of any exercise of a warrant, not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a "covered security" under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a "cashless basis" in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws and no exemption is available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the Class A ordinary shares included in the units. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the offer and sale of such shares under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by us in the IPO.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 33We may issue additional Class A ordinary or preference shares to complete an initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of an initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon the conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of an initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our Articles of Association. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks.
Our Articles of Association authorizes the issuance of up to 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share and 1,000,000 undesignated preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share. As of March 31, 2024, there were 197,784,844 and 15,000,000 authorized but unissued Class A and Class B ordinary shares available, respectively, for issuance, which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of issued and outstanding warrants (including the Private Placement Warrants) and upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares. Class B ordinary shares are convertible into Class A ordinary shares, initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in our Articles of Association. As of March 31, 2024, there were no preference shares issued and outstanding. We may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary shares, and may issue preference shares, in order to complete an initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of an initial business combination. We may also issue Class A ordinary shares upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of an initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions that will be contained in our Articles of Association. However, our Articles of Association provide, among other things, that prior to an initial business combination, we may not issue additional ordinary shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preference shares: - may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in our shares;- may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if preference shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our ordinary shares;- could cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and - may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, ordinary shares and/or warrants.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 34Because we must furnish our shareholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The U.S. federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which we refer to as U.S. GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which refer to as the IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), which we refer to as 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 financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete an initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 35We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then issued and outstanding public warrants.
Our warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between CST, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then issued and outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least a majority of the then issued and outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least a majority of the then issued and outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of ordinary shares purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 36Our warrants are accounted for as a warrant liability and are recorded at fair value upon issuance with any changes in fair value each period reported in earnings, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities or may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Following the consummation of the IPO, we had 18,000,000 warrants outstanding (comprised of the 10,000,000 warrants included in the units and the 8,000,000 Private Placement Warrants). We currently account for these warrants as a warrant liability, which means that we record them at fair value upon issuance with any changes in fair value each period are reported in earnings. The impact of changes in fair value on earnings may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, potential targets may seek a business combination partner that does not have warrants that are accounted for as a warrant liability, which may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 37Because each unit contains one-half of one redeemable warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-half of one redeemable warrant. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless our shareholders purchase at least two units, they will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of an initial business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 38A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike some other blank check companies, if (i) we issue additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of an initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share;(ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of an initial business combination on the date of the consummation of an initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share,then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 39We may redeem our shareholders' unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to our shareholders, thereby making their warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem issued and outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of our Class A ordinary shares equal or exceed $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share consolidations, share capitalizations, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify such shares under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by us in the IPO. Redemption of the issued and outstanding warrants could force our shareholders (i) to exercise their warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for our shareholders to do so, (ii) to sell their warrants at the then-current market price when our shareholders might otherwise wish to hold their warrants or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the issued and outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of our shareholders' warrants. The Private Placement Warrants will not be redeemable by us so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their respective permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by holders other than the initial purchasers or their respective permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the shares and warrants included in the units sold in the IPO. Otherwise, the Private Placement Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the public warrants sold in the IPO.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 40Our management's ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer Class A ordinary shares upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.
If we call our public warrants for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this Form 10-K have been satisfied, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his warrant (including any warrants held by our Sponsor, officers or directors, other purchasers of our founders shares, or their permitted transferees) to do so on a "cashless basis." If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of Class A ordinary shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrant for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential "upside" of the holder's investment in our company.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 41Holders of Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on any appointment or removal of directors we hold prior to the completion of an initial business combination.
Prior to the completion of an initial business combination, only holders of our Founder Shares will have the right to vote on the appointment and removal of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment or removal of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our Founder Shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. Accordingly, our shareholders may not have any say in the management of our company prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 42Our warrants and Founder Shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares and make it more difficult to effectuate an initial business combination.
We have issued warrants to purchase 10,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, at a price of $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment as provided herein), as well as 8,000,000 Private Placement Warrants. Prior to the IPO, our Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 Founder Shares in a private placement, of which 750,000 were forfeited at the expiration of the underwriter's period to exercise the over-allotment option. The Founder Shares are convertible into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in our Articles of Association. In addition, if our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our officers and directors make any Working Capital Loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant, at the option of the lender. Such warrants are identical to the Private Placement Warrants. To the extent we issue Class A ordinary shares to effectuate a business transaction, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of these warrants or conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and reduce the value of the Class A ordinary shares issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants and Founder Shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants sold in the IPO except that, so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their respective permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants (i) will not be redeemable by us, (ii) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the initial purchaser until 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination, and may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 43Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests, and their ability to protect their rights through the U.S. Federal courts may be limited.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our officers or directors, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our officers or directors. Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association, the Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. We will also be subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are different from what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and certain states, such as Delaware, may have more fully-developed and judicially-interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a federal court of the United States. Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like the company have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of the register of members of these companies. Our directors will have discretion under our Articles of Association to determine whether, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. Thus, it may be more difficult for our shareholders to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest. We have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States company.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 44Provisions in our Articles of Association may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A ordinary shares and could entrench management.
Our Articles of Association will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that shareholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include 3-year director terms and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preference shares, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 45Since our Sponsor paid only approximately $0.004 per share for the Founder Shares, certain of our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we acquire a target business that subsequently declines in value.
In February 2021, 5,750,000 Founder Shares were issued to our Sponsor in exchange for a capital contribution of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. 750,000 of those Founder Shares were subsequently forfeited following the expiration of the underwriter's option to exercise the over- allotment option. Certain of our officers and directors have a significant economic interest in our Sponsor. As a result, the low acquisition cost of the Founder Shares creates an economic incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we complete a business combination with a target business that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public investors.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 46The nominal purchase price paid by our Sponsor for the Founder Shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of our shareholders' public shares upon the consummation of an initial business combination.
We offered our units at an IPO price of $10.00 per unit and the amount in our trust account is $10.31 per public share, implying an initial value of $10.31 per public share. However, prior to the IPO, our Sponsor paid a nominal aggregate purchase price of $25,000 for the Founder Shares, or approximately $0.004 per share. As a result, the value of our shareholders' public shares may be significantly diluted upon the consummation of an initial business combination, when the Founder Shares are converted into public shares. For example, the following table shows the dilutive effect of the Founder Shares on the implied value of the public shares upon the consummation of an initial business combination, assuming that our equity value at that time was $191,000,000, which is the amount we had for an initial business combination in the trust account after payment of $9,000,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, no interest is earned on the funds held in the trust account, and no public shares are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination, and without taking into account any other potential impacts on our valuation at such time, such as the trading price of our public shares, the business combination transaction costs, any equity issued or cash paid to the target's sellers or other third parties, or the target's business itself, including its assets, liabilities, management and prospects, as well as the value of our public and Private Placement Warrants. At such valuation, each of our ordinary shares would have an implied value of $7.64 per share upon consummation of an initial business combination, which would be a 22.8% decrease as compared to the initial implied value per public share of $10.00 (the price per unit from the IPO, assuming no value to the public warrants). Public shares 20,000,000 Founder shares 5,000,000 Total shares 25,000,000 Total funds in trust available for initial business combination (less deferred underwriting commissions) $191,000,000 Initial implied value per public share $10.00 Implied value per share upon consummation of initial business combination $7.64
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 47The value of the Founder Shares following completion of an initial business combination is likely to be substantially higher than the nominal price paid for them, even if the trading price of our ordinary shares at such time is substantially less than $10.00 per share.
Upon the July 20, 2021 closing of our IPO, our Sponsor invested in us an aggregate of $8,025,000, comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares and the $8,000,000 purchase price for the Private Placement Warrants. Assuming a trading price of $10.00 per share upon consummation of an initial business combination, the 5,000,000 Founder Shares would have an aggregate implied value of $50,000,000. Even if the trading price of our ordinary shares was as low as $1.405 per share, and the Private Placement Warrants were worthless, the value of the Founder Shares would be equal to the Sponsor's initial investment in us. As a result, our Sponsor is likely to be able to recoup its investment in us and make a substantial profit on that investment, even if our public shares have lost significant value. Accordingly, our management team, which owns interests in our Sponsor, may have an economic incentive that differs from that of the public shareholders to pursue and consummate an initial business combination rather than to liquidate and to return all of the cash in the trust to the public shareholders, even if that business combination were with a riskier or less-established target business. For the foregoing reasons, our shareholders should consider our management team's financial incentive to complete an initial business combination when evaluating whether to redeem their shares prior to or in connection with the initial business combination.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 48Since our officers and directors will be eligible to share in a portion of any appreciation in Founder Shares purchased at approximately $0.004 per share, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for an initial business combination.
The members of our management team have invested in our Sponsor by subscribing units issued by the Sponsor. These officers and directors will not receive any cash compensation from us prior to a business combination but through their investment in the Sponsor will be eligible to share in a portion of any appreciation in Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants, provided that we successfully complete a business combination. We believe that this structure aligns the incentives of these officers and directors with the interests of our shareholders. However, investors should be aware that these officers and directors have paid for an interest (directly, or indirectly through BP SPAC Sponsor, LLC, a member of Sponsor) in Sponsor, which holds the Founder Shares. Upon closing of the initial business combination, such officers and directors would be entitled to receive a distribution of their allocable share of Founder Shares. Each of these officers and directors paid for their interest in Sponsor in an amount equivalent to having paid approximately $0.004 per founder share. This structure also creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we complete a business combination with a target that ultimately declines in value and is not profitable for public investors.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 49Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Until we consummate an initial business combination, we continue to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our Sponsor and officers and directors are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities such as operating companies or investment vehicles that are engaged in making and managing investments in a similar business, although our officers may not become an officer of any other special purpose acquisition companies with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination or we have failed to complete an initial business combination within 36 months (as extended) after the July 20, 2021 closing of the IPO. Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to other entities prior to its presentation to us, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law. Our 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. For a complete discussion of our officers' and directors' business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that our shareholders should be aware of, please see the sections of this Form 10-K entitled "Directors, Executive Officers and Governance--Conflicts of Interest" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence."
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 50Our officers, directors, security holders and each of their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or any of their affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors, although we do not intend to do so. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 51Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Since the completion of the IPO and until we consummate an initial business combination, we are engaged in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our directors and officers may now be, or in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. In addition, our directors and officers may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to other entities prior to its presentation to us, subject to our directors' and officers' fiduciary duties under the Cayman Islands law. Our Articles of Association provide that we renounce, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, our 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 Sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from Sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies similar to ours, including in connection with their initial business combinations, or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or ventures may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete an initial business combination. For further discussion of our executive officers' and directors' business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that our shareholders should be aware of, please see sections of this Form 10-K entitled "Directors, Executive Officers and Governance--Conflicts of Interest" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence."
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 52After an initial business combination, it is possible that a majority of our officers and directors will live outside the United States and all of our assets will be located outside the United States; therefore investors may not be able to enforce federal securities laws or their other legal rights.
It is possible that after an initial business combination, a majority of our officers and directors will reside outside of the United States and all of our assets will be located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult, or in some cases not possible, for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon all of our officers or directors or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties on our officers and directors under United States laws.
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