Vinci Partners Investments (VINP) Risk Analysis

Either we or Compass may terminate the agreements governing the Compass Transaction under certain circumstances, including, among other reasons, if the Compass Transaction is not consummated by such time as set forth in the agreements governing the Compass Transaction. If the Compass Transaction is not completed for any reason, our ongoing business may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Compass Transaction, we could be subject to a number of risks, including the following: -   we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts on our stock price, and from our clients, staff and vendors;-   we will be required to pay certain transaction expenses and other costs relating to the Compass Transaction, whether or not the Compass Transaction is completed;-   the agreements governing the Compass Transaction place certain restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to completion of the Compass Transaction; and -   matters relating to the Compass Transaction (including integration planning) will require substantial commitments of time and resources by our management, which would otherwise have been devoted to day-to-day operations and other opportunities that may have been beneficial to us as an independent company. There can be no assurance that the risks described above will not materialize. If any of those risks materialize, they may materially and adversely affect our businesses, financial condition, financial results and stock price.

The results of operations of the combined company will be affected by some factors that are different from those currently or historically affecting our results of operations and those currently or historically affecting the results of operations of Compass. The results of operations of the combined company may also be affected by factors different from those that currently affect or have historically affected either Vinci Partners or Compass.

The market price of our Class A common shares may decline as a result of sales of a large number of our Class A common shares in the market (including Class A common shares issuable upon conversion of Class B common shares) or the perception that these sales may occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. Our shareholders or entities controlled by them or their permitted transferees will be able to sell their shares in the public market from time to time without registering them, subject to certain limitations on the timing, amount and method of those sales imposed by regulations promulgated by the SEC. If any of our shareholders, the affiliated entities controlled by them or their respective permitted transferees were to sell a large number of their shares, including common shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred shares, the market price of our Class A common shares may decline significantly. In addition, the perception in the public markets that sales by them might occur may also adversely affect the market price of our Class A common shares.

Our Series A convertible preferred shares ranks senior to our common shares with respect to dividend rights and rights on the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. The holders of Series A convertible preferred shares have the right to receive a liquidation preference entitling them to be paid out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders before any payment may be made to holders of any other class or series of our share capital, an amount equal to the greater of (a) the sum of the original liquidation preference plus all accrued but unpaid dividends or (b) the amount that such holder would have been entitled to receive upon our liquidation, dissolution and winding up if all outstanding shares of such series of Series A convertible preferred shares had been converted into common shares immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In addition, the holders of the Series A convertible preferred shares are entitled to a cumulative dividend at the rate of 8.0% per annum. The holders of the Series A convertible preferred shares are also entitled to participate in dividends declared or paid on our common shares on an as-converted basis. The holders of our Series A convertible preferred shares also have the right, subject to certain exceptions, to require us to repurchase all or any portion of the Series A convertible preferred shares upon certain change of control events at the repurchase price set forth in the applicable certificate of designations. These dividend and share repurchase obligations could impact our liquidity and reduce the amount of cash flows available for general corporate purposes. Our obligations to the holders of the Series A convertible preferred shares could also limit our ability to obtain additional financing or increase our borrowing costs, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition. These preferential rights could also result in divergent interests between the holders of shares of Series A convertible preferred shares and holders of our common shares.

As of December 31, 2023, 100,000 Series A convertible preferred shares were outstanding, representing approximately 12.0% of our outstanding common shares, including the Series A convertible preferred shares on an as-converted basis, based on an initial conversion rate of 73.5402 Class A common shares for each Series A convertible preferred share, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately US$13.60 per Class A common share. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major Shareholders." Holders of Series A convertible preferred shares are entitled to a cumulative dividend at the rate of 8.0% per annum. Because holders of our Series A convertible preferred shares are entitled to vote on certain matters described in "-Ares and any other holders of our Series A convertible preferred shares may exercise influence over us," the issuance of the Series A convertible preferred shares, and the subsequent issuance of additional Series A convertible preferred shares, effectively reduce the relative voting power of the holders of our common shares. In addition, the conversion of the Series A convertible preferred shares into common shares would dilute the ownership interest of existing holders of our common shares. Furthermore, any sales in the public market of the common shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred shares would increase the number of our common shares available for public trading, and could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common shares. Sales of a substantial number of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales might occur, could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common shares.

As of December 31, 2023, outstanding Series A convertible preferred shares represented approximately 12.0% of our outstanding common shares, including the Series A convertible preferred shares on an as-converted basis, based on an initial conversion rate of 73.5402 Class A common shares for each Series A convertible preferred share, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately US$13.60 per Class A common share. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major Shareholders." The terms of the Series A convertible preferred shares require the approval of a majority of our Series A convertible preferred shares by a separate class vote for us to take the following decisions, among others described in the respective certificate of designations: -   amend our organizational documents in a manner that would have an adverse effect on the Series A convertible preferred shares; or -   issue securities that are senior to, or equal in priority with, the Series A convertible preferred shares. Circumstances may occur in which the interests of Ares Management Corporation, or Ares, and its affiliates could diverge from, or even conflict with, the interests of our other shareholders. For example, the existence of Ares as a significant shareholder may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or management or limiting the ability of our other shareholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in our best interests. Ares and its affiliates may seek to cause us to take courses of action that, in their judgment, could enhance its investment in us but which might involve risks to our other shareholders or adversely affect us or our other shareholders.

Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, we will be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain look-through rules with respect to subsidiaries, either (1) 75% or more of our gross income consists of "passive income;" or (2) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, "passive income." Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, certain non-active rents and royalties, and capital gains. Based on our operations, income, assets and certain estimates and projections, including as to the relative values of our assets, including goodwill, we believe that we were likely not a PFIC for our 2023 taxable year. However, this belief is based in part on our determination of the value of our equity utilizing various criteria, including discounted cash flows, market prices for certain of our assets and a control premium, which differs from the market price of our Class A common shares. For 2022 and prior taxable years, our expectation as to whether or not we were a PFIC was based on the market price of our Class A common shares. Whether we were a PFIC in 2023, and whether we will be a PFIC in any future year is uncertain because, among other things, (i) we hold a substantial amount of investments that generate passive income; (ii) our PFIC status for any taxable year depends on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which may be uncertain and potentially volatile); and (iii) the law applicable to determining whether our goodwill is categorized as an asset that produces active or passive income is subject to varying interpretation. To the extent that any growth in our passive income outpaces our active business, our PFIC status could change. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we were not a PFIC in 2023 or that we will not be a PFIC for any future taxable year. In addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with our conclusion or our methodology for determining, or our determination, of the value of our goodwill. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. investor holds Class A common shares, we generally would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. investor for all succeeding years during which the U.S. investor holds Class A common shares, even if we ceased to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status. Such a U.S. investor may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, including (i) the treatment of all or a portion of any gain on disposition as ordinary income; (ii) the application of a deferred interest charge on such gain and the receipt of certain dividends; and (iii) compliance with certain reporting requirements. A "mark-to-market" election may be available that will alter the consequences of PFIC status if our Class A common shares are regularly traded on a qualified exchange. For further discussion, see "Item 10. Additional Information-E. Taxation-Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders."

Gilberto Sayão da Silva controls our company and does not hold any of our Class A common shares, though he beneficially owns 26.9% of our issued and outstanding share capital through his beneficial ownership of all of our outstanding Class B common shares, and consequently, 75.6% of the combined voting power of our issued share capital. Our Class B common shares are entitled to 10 votes per share and our Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share. Our Class B common shares are convertible into an equivalent number of Class A common shares and generally convert into Class A common shares upon transfer, subject to limited exceptions. As a result, Mr. Sayão da Silva controls the outcome of all decisions at our shareholders' meetings, and is able to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors. He is also able to direct our actions in areas such as business strategy, financing, distributions, acquisitions and dispositions of assets or businesses. For example, Mr. Sayão da Silva may cause us to make acquisitions that increase the amount of our indebtedness or outstanding Class A common shares, sell revenue-generating assets or inhibit change of control transactions that may benefit other shareholders. The decisions of Mr. Sayão da Silva on these matters may be contrary to your expectations or preferences, and they may take actions that could be contrary to your interests. He is able to prevent any other shareholders from blocking these actions. For further information regarding shareholdings in our company, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major Shareholders." In addition, for so long as Mr. Sayão da Silva beneficially owns more than two-thirds of our issued share capital, he will also have the ability to unilaterally amend our Articles of Association, which may be amended only by special resolution of shareholders (requiring a two-thirds majority vote of those shareholders attending and voting at a quorate meeting). So long as Mr. Sayão da Silva beneficially owns a sufficient number of Class B common shares, even if he beneficially owns significantly less than 50% of our outstanding share capital, he will be able to effectively control our decisions. However, if our Class B common shares at any time represent less than 10% of the total aggregate number of common shares in the capital of the company outstanding, each Class B common share then outstanding will automatically convert into one Class A common share. For a description of the dual class structure, see "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Share Capital"

We have a strong corporate culture and continuously work to uphold this corporate culture within our organization. Our growth across new product offerings, investment opportunities, asset classes and markets may lead to organizational and cultural challenges. Without the existence of thoughtful strategies aimed at maintaining corporate culture despite rapid growth, there is a risk that our corporate culture will be diluted, and our values will change over time. Our focus on our personnel has further been decisive in retaining employees and maintaining good organizational health. Dilution of our corporate culture and of our Brazilian heritage may lead to key employees leaving us, a change in our leadership style or additional strain on our ability to successfully integrate new employees, new systems or other resources. If we do not uphold our corporate culture, this may also adversely affect our ability to retain and recruit investment advisory professionals and other key personnel. Our personnel is our most important asset, and a dilution of our corporate culture could have a material adverse effect on our continued development, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In recent years, certain investors, especially pension funds, have placed increasing importance on the negative impacts of investments made by the private equity and other funds to which they commit capital, including with respect to ESG matters. Certain investors have also demonstrated increased activism with respect to existing investments, including by urging asset managers to take certain actions that could adversely impact the value of an investment, or refrain from taking certain actions that could improve the value of an investment. At times, investors have conditioned future capital commitments on the taking or refraining from taking of such actions. Increased focus and activism related to ESG and similar matters may constrain our capital deployment opportunities, and the demands of certain investors may further limit the types of investments that are available to our funds. In addition, investors may decide to withdraw previously committed capital from our funds (where such withdrawal is permitted) or to not commit capital to future fundraises as a result of their assessment of our approach to and consideration of the social cost of investments made by our funds. To the extent our access to capital from investors, including pension funds, is impaired, we may not be able to maintain or increase the size of our funds or raise enough capital for new funds, which may adversely impact our revenues.

Under our Articles of Association, each holder of our Class B common shares is entitled to preemptive rights to purchase additional common shares in the event that additional Class A common shares are issued, upon the same economic terms and at the same price, in order to maintain their proportional ownership interests, which represent approximately 26.9% of our issued and outstanding shares. The exercise by holders of our Class B common shares of preemptive rights may impair our ability to raise funds, or adversely affect the terms on which we are able to raise funds, as we may not be able to offer to new investors the quantity of our shares that they may desire to purchase.

Our Articles of Association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire our control, including a provision that grants authority to our board of directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain our control in a tender offer or similar transactions.

The trading market for our Class A common shares depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our Class A common shares or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our Class A common shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our Class A common shares could decrease, which might cause the price of our Class A common shares and trading volume to decline.

In 2017, FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones and MSCI announced changes to their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares of common stock from being added to such indices. FTSE Russell announced plans to require new constituents of its indices to have at least five percent of their voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, whereas S&P Dow Jones announced that companies with multiple share classes, such as ours, will not be eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. MSCI also opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from its ACWI Investable Market Index and U.S. Investable Market 2500 Index; however, in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities "with unequal voting structures" in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria. We cannot assure you that other stock indices will not take a similar approach to FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones and MSCI in the future. Under the announced policies, our dual class capital structure would make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these indices and, as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that attempt to passively track these indices will not invest in our stock. It continues to be somewhat unclear what effect, if any, these policies will have on the valuations of publicly traded companies excluded from the indices, but in certain situations they may depress these valuations compared to those of other similar companies that are included. Exclusion from indices could make our Class A common shares less attractive to investors and, as a result, the market price of our Class A common shares could be adversely affected.

Each Class A common share entitles its holder to one vote per share and each Class B common share entitles its holder to ten votes per share, so long as the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is at least 10% of the total number of shares outstanding. The beneficial owner of all of our Class B common shares is Gilberto Sayão da Silva. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major Shareholders." Due to the ten-to-one voting ratio between our Class B and Class A common shares, Mr. Sayão da Silva controls a majority of the combined voting power of our common shares and therefore be able to control all matters submitted to our shareholders so long as the total number of the issued and outstanding Class B common shares is at least 10% of the total number of shares outstanding and the total number of the issued. In addition, our Articles of Association provide that at any time when there are Class A common shares in issue, additional Class B common shares may only be issued pursuant to (1) a share split, subdivision of shares or similar transaction or where a dividend or other distribution is paid by the issue of shares or rights to acquire shares or following capitalization of profits; (2) a merger, consolidation, or other business combination involving the issuance of Class B common shares as full or partial consideration; or (3) an issuance of Class A common shares, whereby a holder of the Class B common shares is entitled to purchase a number of Class B common shares that would allow such holder to maintain its proportional ownership interests in us (following an offer by us to each holder of Class B common shares to issue to such holder, upon the same economic terms and at the same price, such number of Class B common shares as would ensure such holder may maintain a proportional ownership interest in us pursuant to our Articles of Association). In light of the above provisions relating to the issuance of additional Class B common shares, as well as the ten-to-one voting ratio of our Class B common shares and Class A common shares, the holder of our Class B common shares controls all matters requiring shareholder approval. This concentrated control limits or precludes our shareholders' ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future. For a description of our dual class structure, see "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Voting Rights."

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association and by the laws of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of members of our board of directors may be different from the rights of shareholders and responsibilities of directors in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, as a matter of Cayman Islands law, directors of a Cayman Islands company owe fiduciary duties to the company and separately a duty of care, diligence and skill to the company. Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties: (1) duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; (2) duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; (3) directors should not properly fetter the exercise of future discretion; (4) duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders; (5) duty to exercise independent judgment; and (6) duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. Our Articles of Association have varied this last obligation by providing that a director must disclose the nature and extent of his or her interest in any contract or arrangement, and following such disclosure and subject to any separate requirement under applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq, and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting, such director may vote in respect of any transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested and may be counted in the quorum at the meeting. Conversely, under Delaware corporate law, a director has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its stockholders (made up of two components) and the director's duties prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interests of the company and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. See "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and U.S. Corporate Law."

As a foreign private issuer and emerging growth company, we are subject to different disclosure and other requirements than domestic U.S. registrants and non-emerging growth companies. For example, as a foreign private issuer, in the United States, we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a domestic U.S. registrant under the Exchange Act, including the requirements to prepare and issue quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or to file current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events, the proxy rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 14 of the Exchange Act or the insider reporting and short-swing profit rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we rely on exemptions from certain U.S. rules which permit us to follow Cayman Islands legal requirements rather than certain of the requirements that are applicable to U.S. domestic registrants. We follow Cayman Islands laws and regulations that are applicable to Cayman Islands companies. However, Cayman Islands laws and regulations applicable to Cayman Islands companies do not contain any provisions comparable to the U.S. proxy rules, the U.S. rules relating to the filing of reports on Form 10-Q or 8-K or the U.S. rules relating to liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time, as referred to above. Furthermore, foreign private issuers are required to file their annual report on Form 20-F within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. Foreign private issuers are also exempt from Regulation Fair Disclosure, aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information, although we are be subject to Cayman Islands laws and regulations having, in some respects, a similar effect as Regulation Fair Disclosure. As a result of the above, even though we are required to file reports on Form 6-K disclosing the limited information which we have made or are required to make public pursuant to Cayman Islands law, or are required to distribute to shareholders generally, and that is material to us, you may not receive information of the same type or amount that is required to be disclosed to shareholders of a U.S. company. The Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for emerging growth companies. Under this act, as an emerging growth company, we will not be subject to the same disclosure and financial reporting requirements as non-emerging growth companies. For example, as an emerging growth company we are permitted to, and intend to continue to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Also, we will not have to comply with future audit rules promulgated by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, (unless the SEC determines otherwise) and our auditors will not need to attest to our internal controls under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may follow these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information that they deem important. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual revenues of at least US$1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700.0 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. Accordingly, the information about us available to you will not be the same as, and may be more limited than, the information available to shareholders of a non-emerging growth company. 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 Class A common shares held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700.0 million as of any June 30 (the end of our second fiscal quarter) before that time, in which case we would no longer be an "emerging growth company" as of the following December 31 (our fiscal year end). We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A common shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common shares and the price of our Class A common shares may be more volatile.

Gilberto Sayão da Silva beneficially owns 100% of our Class B common shares, representing 75.6% of the voting power of our outstanding share capital. As a result, we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq corporate governance rules. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power in the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. For example, controlled companies, within one year of the date of the listing of their common shares: -   are not required to have a board that is composed of a majority of "independent directors," as defined under the rules of such exchange;-   are not required to have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and -   are not required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. As a "controlled company," we rely on such exemptions and, as a result, we do not expect a majority of the directors on our board to be independent. In addition, we do not expect that any of the committees of the board to consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, our shareholders do not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq.

Subject to certain requirements, as a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow home country practice in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance rules, which include rules relating to board independence, independent director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and other corporate governance matters, such as the requirement that we obtain shareholder approval prior to an issuance of securities (in certain circumstances) in connection with certain events. To the extent Cayman Islands law does not require us to adopt these corporate governance standards, we are permitted, intend to and follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. See "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Principal Differences between Cayman Islands and U.S. Corporate Law-Corporate Governance."

In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, either (a) more than 50% of our Class A common shares must be either directly or indirectly owned of record by non-residents of the United States or (b)(i) a majority of our executive officers or directors may not be U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) more than 50% of our assets cannot be located in the United States; and (iii) our business must be administered principally outside the United States. If we lose this status, we would be required to comply with the Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers. We may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC and the Nasdaq rules. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher than the costs we will incur as a foreign private issuer.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Association, by the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, or the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our 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 that from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less exhaustive body of securities laws than the United States. In addition, some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fulsome and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. While Cayman Islands law allows a dissenting shareholder to express the shareholder's view that a court sanctioned reorganization of a Cayman Islands company would not provide fair value for the shareholder's shares, Cayman Islands statutory law does not specifically provide for shareholder appraisal rights in connection with a court sanctioned reorganization (by way of a scheme of arrangement). This may make it more difficult for you to assess the value of any consideration you may receive in a merger or consolidation (by way of a scheme of arrangement) or to require that the acquirer gives you additional consideration if you believe the consideration offered is insufficient. However, Cayman Islands statutory law provides a mechanism for a dissenting shareholder in a merger or consolidation to apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for a determination of the fair value of the dissenter's shares if it is not possible for the company and the dissenter to agree on a fair price within the time limits prescribed. Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies (such as us) have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records and accounts or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders. Our directors have discretion under our Articles of Association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest. Subject to limited exceptions, under Cayman Islands law, a minority shareholder may not bring a derivative action against the board of directors. Class actions are not recognized in the Cayman Islands, but groups of shareholders with identical interests may bring representative proceedings, which are similar.

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, the majority of our directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. A substantial portion of the assets of these persons is located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons. It may also be difficult to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors who are not resident in the United States and the substantial majority of whose assets are located outside of the United States. Further, it is unclear if original actions predicated on civil liabilities based solely upon U.S. federal securities laws are enforceable in courts outside the United States, including in the Cayman Islands and Brazil. Courts of the Cayman Islands may not, in an original action in the Cayman Islands, recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state of the United States on the grounds that such provisions are penal in nature. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction if such judgment is final, for a liquidated sum, provided it is not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matters, and was not obtained in a manner which is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands. In addition, a Cayman Islands court may stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

Most of our assets are located in Brazil. If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of our Class A common shares, we may not be required to discharge our obligations in a currency other than the real. Under Brazilian exchange control laws, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than the real may only be satisfied in Brazilian currency at the exchange rate, typically as determined by the Brazilian Central Bank, in effect on the date the judgment is obtained, and such amounts are then typically adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations and monetary restatements through the effective payment date. The then-prevailing exchange rate may not afford non-Brazilian investors with full compensation for any claim arising out of or related to our obligations under the Class A common shares.