UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 20, 2021 (July 15, 2021)

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-40426   86-1973248
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100

San Francisco, CA 94111

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 780-9975

 

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on
which registered
         
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-fourth of one Redeemable Warrant   TWCBU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   TWCB   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Redeemable Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50   TWCBW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☒

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

  

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On July 20, 2021, Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) consummated its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 15,000,000 units (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant of the Company (“Warrant”), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock for $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $150,000,000.

 

In connection with the IPO, the Company entered into the following agreements, forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253419) related to the IPO, originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 23, 2021 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”):

 

  An Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated July 15, 2021 by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Evercore Group L.L.C., as representatives of the several underwriters, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  A Warrant Agreement, dated July 15, 2021, by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“AST”), as warrant agent, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  A Letter Agreement, dated July 15, 2021, by and among the Company, its officers, its directors and the Company’s sponsor, Bilander Holdings, LLC (the “Sponsor”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  An Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated July 15, 2021, by and between the Company and AST, as trustee, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  A Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 15, 2021, by and among the Company and certain securities holders, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

  A Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement (the “Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement”), dated July 15, 2021, by and between the Company and the Sponsor, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

  

 

On July 15, 2021 the Company entered into certain Forward Purchase Agreements, the form of which was previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on July 6, 2021, with several institutional accredited investors, that will provide for the aggregate purchase of at least $50,000,000 of Class A Common Stock at $10.00 per share, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial business combination.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, pursuant to the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, the Company completed the private sale of an aggregate of 3,500,000 Warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) to the Sponsor at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $5,250,000. The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Warrants sold as part of the Units in the IPO, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sale. The issuance of the Private Placement Warrants was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On July 16, 2021 in connection with the IPO, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, effective the same day. The terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation are set forth in the Registration Statement and are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

A total of $150,000,000, comprised of $147,000,000 of the proceeds from the IPO (which amount included $5,250,000 of the underwriters’ deferred discount) and $3,000,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, was placed in a U.S.-based trust account maintained by AST, acting as trustee. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to the Company to fund for working capital requirements, subject to an annual limit of $500,000, and pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any of the Company’s public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (a) to modify the substance or timing of its obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO (or 27 months from the closing of the IPO if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO) or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to rights of holders of Class A Common Stock prior to the Company’s initial business combination or pre-initial business combination business activity and (iii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if it is unable to complete its initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO (or 27 months from the closing of the IPO if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO), subject to applicable law.

 

On July 15, 2021 the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the IPO, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

On July 20, 2021 the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the IPO, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

 

(d) Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

 

Exhibit No.    Description
     
1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated July 15, 2021 by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Evercore Group L.L.C, as representatives of the several underwriters.
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
     
4.1   Warrant Agreement, dated July 15, 2021 by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent.
     
10.1   Letter Agreement, dated July 15, 2021, by and among the Company, its officers, its directors and the Sponsor.
     
10.2   Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated July 15, 2021 by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee.
     
10.3   Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated July 15, 2021 by and among the Company and certain security holders.
     
10.4   Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated July 15, 2021 by and between the Company and the Sponsor.
     
99.1   Press Release, dated July 15, 2021.
     
99.2   Press Release, dated July 20, 2021.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  Bilander Acquisition Corp.
     
  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
    Name:  Scott W. Wagner
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
Dated: July 20, 2021

  

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

15,000,000 Units

BILANDER Acquisition Corp.

Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock,
$0.0001 par value, and one-fourth of one warrant

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

July 15, 2021

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

 

Evercore Group L.L.C.

55 East 52nd Street

New York, New York 10055

 

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to you and, as applicable, to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, an aggregate of 15,000,000 units (the “Units”) of the Company (the “Firm Securities”).

 

The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters not more than an additional 2,250,000 Units (the “Additional Securities”), if and to the extent that the Representatives shall have determined to exercise the right to purchase such Units granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Securities and the Additional Securities are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Securities.” To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the term Underwriter shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

 

Each Unit consists of one share of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant of the Company, with each whole warrant entitling its holder, upon exercise thereof, to purchase one share of Common Stock (each such share, a “Share”). The Shares (the “Public Shares”) and the warrants (the “Public Warrants”) included in the Units will not trade separately until the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus (as defined below) (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day), unless the Representatives inform the Company of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to (a) the Company’s preparation of an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering (as defined below), (b) the filing of such audited balance sheet with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on a Current Report on Form 8-K or similar form by the Company that includes such audited balance sheet, and (c) the Company having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Public Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise thereof, to purchase one Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, during the period commencing on the later of thirty (30) days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below) and twelve (12) months from the date of the consummation of the Offering and terminating on the five-year anniversary of the date of the completion of such initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or Liquidation (as defined in Section 6(ll) hereof); provided, however, that pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), no fractional

 

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Public Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Public Warrants will trade. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” (as described more fully in the Prospectus) shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses involving the Company.

 

The Company has entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2021, with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“AST”), as trustee, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement (as defined below) (the “Trust Agreement”), pursuant to which the proceeds of the Offering (as defined below) and certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) will be deposited and held in a U.S.-based trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company, the Underwriters and the holders of the Firm Securities and the Additional Securities, if and when issued.

 

The Company has entered into a Warrant Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with AST, as warrant agent, with respect to the Public Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants and certain warrants of the Company that the Company may issue to the Sponsor (as defined below) or its affiliates or the Company’s officers and directors upon conversion of working capital loans made by such parties to the Company (the “Working Capital Warrants”), in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which AST will act as warrant agent in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption, and exercise of the Public Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants.

 

The Company has entered into a Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2021, with Bilander Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement (the “Founder Shares Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 4,312,500 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (such shares of Class B Common Stock, the “Founder Shares”), for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Up to 750,000 Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor depending on the extent to which the Underwriters do not exercise their right to purchase Additional Securities). On April 30, 2021, the Company effected a 4:3 split of the Founder Shares, resulting in an aggregate of 5,750,000 Class B Common Stock, par value $0.000075, 5,683,332 shares of which were held by the Sponsor and 66,668 shares of which were held by the Company’s officers and director nominees. On May 12 2021, the Company nominated Mr. Janetschek as director and assigned him 16,667 shares of Class B Common Stock, which resulted in the Sponsor holding 5,666,665 shares of Class B common stock. The Founder Shares are substantially similar to the Public Shares, except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus (as defined below) and the Prospectus.

 

The Sponsor has entered into a Securities Assignment Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2021, with each of Lee Kirkpatrick, Scott W. Wagner, Darren Thompson and Alexi A. Wellman, pursuant to which the Sponsor transferred 12,500 Founder Shares to each of Lee Kirkpatrick, Scott W. Wagner, Darren Thompson and Alexi A. Wellman (none of which is subject to forfeiture). On April 30, 2021, the Company effected a 4:3 split of the Founder Shares, resulting in an aggregate of 5,750,000 Class B Common Stock, par value $0.000075,66,668 shares of which are held by each of Lee Kirkpatrick, Scott W. Wagner, Darren Thompson and Alexi A. Wellman. On May 12, 2021, the Sponsor entered into a Securities Assignment Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2021, with William Janetschek, pursuant to which the Sponsor transferred 16,667 Founder Shares to Mr. Janetschek (none of which is subject to forfeiture). There is an aggregate 83,335 shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Company’s officers and director nominees.

 

The Company has entered into a Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2021, with the Sponsor, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement (the “Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 3,500,000 warrants of the Company (or 3,800,000 warrants if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share for $1.50 per warrant (the “Private Placement Warrants” and, together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”). The Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Public Warrants, except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

The Company has entered into Forward Purchase Agreements, dated as of July 15, 2021, with certain forward purchasers (the “Forward Purchasers”) previously identified to the Underwriters, in substantially the form

 

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filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement (each a “Forward Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers agreed to purchase an aggregate amount of at least $50,000,000 in shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share (such shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, the “Forward Purchase Securities”), in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination. The Forward Purchasers’ commitments under the Forward Purchase Agreements are subject to certain conditions, as described in the Forward Purchase Agreements.

 

The Company has entered into a Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2021, with the Sponsor and certain of the Company’s officers and directors, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has, among other things, granted certain registration rights in respect of the Founder Shares, the Forward Purchase Securities (including any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities issues or issuable upon conversion or any Forward Purchase Securities), the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the Shares underlying the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants (which Working Capital Warrants will be substantially similar to the Private Placement Warrants).

 

The Company has caused to be duly executed and delivered a letter agreement, dated as of July 15, 2021, by and among the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers and directors, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”).

 

The Company has prepared and filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253419), including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. That registration statement, as amended at the time it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act (the date and time of such declaration of effectiveness, the “Effective Date”), including the exhibits and schedules thereto, as well as the information (if any) (the “Rule 430A Information”) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time it was declared effective pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional Units pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A and Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. Such prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.”

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “preliminary prospectus” shall mean each prospectus relating to the Securities used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness together with the documents and pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof.

 

1.       Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriters that:

 

(a)           The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued, and no proceedings for any of those purposes or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act are pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission; the Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

 

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(b)          (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement, when it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, (iii) each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act, (iv) the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time it is filed with the Commission, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, (v) at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the Offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof) and at any Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 2 hereof), any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined in Section 1(qq) hereof) did not and will not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, (vi) at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the Offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, at the Closing Date and at any Option Closing Date, none of (A) the Time of Sale Prospectus, and (B) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, contained, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (vii) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (viii) neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date, contained, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriters expressly for use therein as set forth in Section 9(b).

 

(c)           (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) as of the date of this Agreement and (iii) as of the Closing Date, the Company was, is and will be an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). The Company has not prepared or used any free writing prospectus.

 

(d)          The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A (file number 001-40426) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Public Shares and the Public Warrants, which registration is currently effective on the date hereof. The Units, the Public Shares and the Public Warrants have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.

 

(e)           The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founder Shares Subscription Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreements and the Registration Rights Agreement (such agreements collectively, the “Transaction Agreements”) and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; the Company is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not be reasonably expected, singly or in the aggregate, either (i) have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, properties, liquidity or results of operations or prospects of the

 

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Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business or (ii) prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the occurrence of any such effect or any such prevention or interference described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(f)            The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(g)          Each of the Transaction Agreements (other than the Underwriting Agreement) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

 

(h)          Each of the Founder Shares Subscription Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Sponsor and is a valid and binding agreement of the Sponsor, enforceable against the Sponsor in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(i)            The Insider Letter executed by the Company, the Sponsor and each executive officer, director and director nominee of the Company, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Sponsor, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, enforceable against the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(j)            The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the section of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus entitled “Capitalization” under the column entitled “Actual” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement).

 

(k)          All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The offers and sales of the issued and outstanding securities of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act, the applicable state securities and Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities, exempt from such registration requirements. The holders of outstanding securities of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the Securities; and, except as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares or other ownership interests in the Company are outstanding.

 

(l)            No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company from its inception through and including the date hereof, except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. 

 

(m)         The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

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(n)          The Public Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of the Public Shares are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders and the issuance of the Public Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights.

 

(o)          The Public Warrants, when issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(p)          The Shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise thereof and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to terms of the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants, as applicable, and the Warrant Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of such Shares are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the issuance of such Shares is not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of such Shares has been duly and validly taken.

 

(q)          The Shares issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon conversion thereof and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Class B Common Stock of the Company, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of such Shares are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the issuance of such Shares is not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of such Shares has been duly and validly taken.

 

(r)            The Private Placement Warrants, when issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment therefor by the Sponsor pursuant to the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, will be duly issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(s)           The Forward Purchase Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed by the Company and countersigned, and issued and delivered against payment by the Underwriters pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(t)            The Company is not in breach or violation of or in default under (nor has any event occurred which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (i) the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or its bylaws, (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound or affected, (iii) any statute, law, rule or regulation or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, assets or operations; except in the case of clauses (ii) or (iv) above for any such breach, violation or default that would not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u)          The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, each Transaction Agreement and the Insider Letter and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not contravene, conflict with, result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which, with notice, lapse of

 

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time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness or other financing instrument (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness or other financing instrument under) any provision of applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company that is material to the Company, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification or filing with, any governmental body, agency or court is required for the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, any Transaction Agreement or the Insider Letter or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except such as may be required by (i) the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, (ii) the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), (iii) any listing applications and related consents or any notices required by Nasdaq in the ordinary course of the listing of the Securities on Nasdaq or (iv) filings with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

 

(v)          Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, properties, liquidity or results of operations or prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

(w)         There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company, the Sponsor or their respective directors, director nominees or officers is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or the Sponsor is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required (and the Time of Sale Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Prospectus).

 

(x)          The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(y)          Except as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or for any rights exercisable for or, or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

(z)           (i) None of the Company, the Sponsor, any director, director nominee, officer or employee of the Company or the Sponsor or, to the Company’s knowledge, any affiliate of the Company or any agent or representative of the Company or of the Sponsor, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or any other applicable anti-corruption laws; (ii) the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company’s officers, directors, director nominees, agents,

 

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employees and affiliates and the Sponsor, have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; and (iii) the Company will not use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the Offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of the FCPA or any other applicable anti-corruption laws.

 

(aa)        The operations of the Company and the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, other affiliates of the Company, are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company, the Sponsor and the Company’s other affiliates conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, the Sponsor or, to the Company’s knowledge, other affiliates of the Company, with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

 

(bb)       (i) None of the Company, the Sponsor, any director, director nominee, officer or employee of the Company or the Sponsor or, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, representative or affiliate of the Company or the Sponsor, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:

 

(A)   the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or

 

(B)   located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

(ii)    The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

(A)   to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

(B)   in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(iii)  The Company has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.,

 

(cc)        Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and

 

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(iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.

 

(dd)       The Company owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted.

 

(ee)        No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is imminent.

 

(ff)         The Company possesses all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(gg)       The financial statements included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules thereto, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly the financial position of the Company as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The other financial information included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and presents fairly the information shown thereby. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required by the Securities Act to be included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus that are not included as required. The Company is not party to any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived.

 

(hh)       WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”), who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and delivered their report with respect to the audited financial statements and schedules of the Company included in each of the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

 

(ii)          To the extent required by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(jj)          The Company will maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is

 

9 

 

accumulated and communicated to management of the Company, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

(kk)       Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not sold, issued or distributed any securities during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Securities Act.

 

(ll)          Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities that are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Securities Act with the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

(mm)   The Company has filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by it through the date of this Agreement or has requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company which, singly or in the aggregate, has had (nor does the Company have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company and which, singly or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(nn)       No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or the Sponsor or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer, director or director nominee of the Company, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(oo)       There are no transfer, stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes, duties, fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, or under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities.

 

(pp)       From the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

(qq)       The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are reasonably believed to be accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications on its behalf. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule III hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of, or Rule 163B under, the Securities Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

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(rr)         Solely to the extent that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) have been applicable to the Company, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that it is in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are in effect and with which the Company is required to comply.

 

(ss)         There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the Effective Date the Company will be in compliance with, Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5605. Further, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the Effective Date the Company will be in compliance with, the phase-in requirements and all other provisions of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC corporate governance requirements set forth in the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.

 

(tt)          Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any of the Underwriters and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any of the Underwriters.

 

(uu)       All information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company’s officers and directors and provided to the Underwriters is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information that would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers and directors to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

(vv)       Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, prior to the date hereof, the Company has not identified or selected any specific acquisition target and has not, nor, to its knowledge, has anyone on its behalf initiated, and as of the Closing Date, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf will have, (i) initiated contact with any prospective acquisition target or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a possible Business Combination, or (ii) undertaken, or engaged or retained any agent or other representative to undertake, any research, diligence, evaluations or similar activities to identify, locate or contact any suitable acquisition candidate.

 

(ww)    Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, contracts, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a brokerage commission or finder’s, consulting, origination or similar fee by the Company, the Sponsor, or their respective affiliates, or any officer or director of the Company with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company, the Sponsor or any such officer or director of the Company, or their respective affiliates, that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

(xx)       Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or any other form of “underwriting compensation” as defined in Rule 5110(j)(22) of FINRA’s Conduct Rules and Supplemental Material .01 thereunder): (i) to any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any person that, to the Company’s knowledge, has been accepted by FINRA as a member of FINRA (a “Member”); or (iii) to any person or entity that, to the Company’s knowledge, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Member, within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement, other than payments to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement

 

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(yy)       Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, during the period beginning 180 days prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement and ending on the Effective Date, no Member and/or any person associated or affiliated with a Member has provided any investment banking, financial advisory and/or consulting services to the Company. No Participating Member (as defined in FINRA rule 5110(j)(15)) in the Offering has received any underwriting compensation in connection with a prior proposed public offering that was not completed in accordance with the terms of an agreement between the Company and a Participating Member in the Offering.

 

(zz)        Except as disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires provided to the Representatives, no officer, director or beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a Participating Member in the Offering.

 

(aaa)     Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no proceeds from the sale of the Securities (excluding underwriting compensation as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus) will be paid by the Company to any Member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a Member.

 

(bbb)    The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a potential Participating Member in the Offering, including any affiliate or associated person of, and any immediate family (as defined by FINRA rules) of, such a Participating Member, within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.

 

(ccc)     Except for the issuance of securities to the Sponsor, no person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement through the date of this Agreement has to the Company’s knowledge any affiliation or association with any Participating Member in the Offering.

 

(ddd)    To the Company’s knowledge, no Member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” means, if at the time of the Member’s participation in the Offering, any of the following applies: (A) the securities are to be issued by the Member; (B) the Company controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Member or the Member’s associated persons; (C) at least 5% of the net offering proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, are intended to be: (i) used to reduce or retire the balance of a loan or credit facility extended by the Member, its affiliates and its associated persons, in the aggregate; or (ii) otherwise directed to the Member, its affiliates and associated persons, in the aggregate; or (D) as a result of the Offering and any transactions contemplated at the time of the Offering: (i) the Member will be an affiliate of the Company; (ii) the Member will become publicly owned; or (iii) the Company will become a Member or form a broker-dealer subsidiary.

 

(eee)     The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(fff)       To the Company’s knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of the Sponsor, directors, director nominees or officers of the Company is subject to a noncompetition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could materially affect its, his or her ability to be and act in the capacity of shareholder, officer or director of the Company, as applicable.

 

(ggg)    The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity.

 

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(hhh)    No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any director, director nominee, officer, stockholder, special advisor, customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus that is not described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.

 

(iii)        The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Securities to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

 

(jjj)        Upon delivery and payment for the Securities on the Closing Date, the Company will not be subject to Rule 419 under the Securities Act and none of the Company’s outstanding securities will be deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act.

 

(kkk)    statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Principal Stockholders,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” and “Description of Securities” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries in all material respects of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer or director of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the Offering shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriters.

 

2.       Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the such Underwriters’ name in Schedule I hereto at $9.80 per Unit (the “Purchase Price”).

 

On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 2,250,000 Additional Securities at the Purchase Price. The Underwriters may exercise this right in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice to the Company not later than 45 days after the date of this Agreement. Any such written notice shall specify the number of Additional Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such Additional Securities are to be purchased. Each such purchase date must be at least two (2) business days after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the Closing Date or later than ten (10) business days after the date of such notice; provided, however, that if such purchase date is the Closing Date, such written notice may be provided one business day prior to the Closing Date. Additional Securities may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Securities. On each day, if any, that Additional Securities are to be purchased (any such day, other than the Closing Date, an “Option Closing Date”), each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the total number of Additional Securities to be purchased on such day as set forth in such written notice to the Company.

 

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In addition to the discount from the public offering price represented by the Purchase Price set forth in the first sentence of this Section 2, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Underwriters a deferred discount of $0.35 per Unit (including both Firm Securities and Additional Securities) purchased hereunder (the “Deferred Discount”) which Deferred Discount will be deposited and held in the Trust Account and payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to the Underwriters, upon the Company’s consummation of its initial Business Combination. The Underwriters hereby agree that if no Business Combination is consummated within the time period provided in the Trust Agreement and the funds held under the Trust Agreement are distributed to the holders of the Public Shares (the “Public Stockholders”), (i) the Underwriters will forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount and (ii) the trustee under the Trust Agreement will be authorized to distribute the Deferred Discount to the Public Stockholders in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.       Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in the Underwriters’ judgment is advisable (the “Offering”). The Company is further advised by the Underwriters that the Securities are to be offered to the public initially at $10.00 per Unit (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by the Underwriters at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $0.12 per Unit under the Public Offering Price.

 

4.       Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Securities shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Trust Account against delivery to the Representatives of the security entitlements in respect of the Firm Securities through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or, if the Representatives shall have otherwise instructed, against delivery to the Representatives of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Securities. Such payment for and delivery of the Firm Securities shall be made three business days after July 15, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. New York City time, or at such other time on the same or such other date, as shall be designated in writing by the Underwriters. The time and date of such payment and delivery is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

 

Payment for any Additional Securities shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Trust Account against delivery to the Representatives of the security entitlements in respect of such Additional Securities through the facilities of DTC or, if the Representatives shall have otherwise instructed, against delivery to the Representatives of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives) representing such Additional Securities. Such payment for and delivery of Additional Securities shall be made at 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 hereof, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the third business day after the date specified in such notice, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. In addition to the conditions provided for in Section 5(m), payment by the Representatives for any Additional Securities to be purchased on an Option Closing Date shall be contingent on the payment by the Sponsor to the Trust Account of the following amount at least one business day prior to such Option Closing Date: an amount equal to such portion of the gross proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants sold by the Company to the Sponsor on such Option Closing Date as would cause the amount in the Trust Account (after giving effect to the amounts previously deposited in the Trust Account, the payment for such Additional Securities and such Sponsor payment) to equal the product of the number of Securities so far sold hereunder (including such Additional Securities) and the Public Offering Price per Unit.

 

Any Securities purchased hereunder shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request at least one business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

5.       Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer or other representative of the Company and delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following further conditions:

 

(a)           the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.

 

(b)          Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

 

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(i)      no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been issued, and no proceedings for any of those purposes or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; and

 

(ii)    there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the Representatives’ judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the Representatives’ judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

 

(c)           The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 5(b) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

 

(d)          The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives.

 

(e)           The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives.

 

(f)            The Representatives shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, from Withum, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

 

(g)          The Company shall have delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of the Transaction Agreements and the Insider Letter and each shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

 

(h)          FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting or other arrangements of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(i)            The Securities shall have been duly listed, and admitted and authorized for trading, on Nasdaq, subject to notice of issuance, satisfactory evidence of which shall have been provided to the Representatives.

 

(j)            Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have caused proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants sold by the Company to the Sponsor on the Closing Date to be deposited into the Trust Account such that the cumulative amount deposited into the Trust Account as of the Closing Date shall equal the product of the number of Securities sold on the Closing Date and the Public Offering Price per Unit.

 

(k)          No order preventing or suspending the sale of the Securities in any jurisdiction designated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 6(j) hereof shall have been issued as of the Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall have been threatened.

 

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(l)            Counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to render the opinions or make the statements requested by the Underwriters, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the covenants, obligations or conditions, contained herein; and all material proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters.

 

(m)         The obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Securities hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representatives on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:

 

(i)      a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;

 

(ii)    an opinion and negative assurance letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives;

 

(iii)  an opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives;

 

(iv)   a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, from Withum, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three (3) business days prior to such Option Closing Date; and

 

(v)    such other documents as the Underwriters may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Securities.

 

6.       Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with the Underwriters as follows:

 

(a)           To comply with the requirements of Rule 430A under the Securities Act, and to notify the Representatives as soon as practicable, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission regarding the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of the issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of the suspension of the qualification of any Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with any offer or sale of Securities. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop, prevention or suspension order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 

(b)          The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of

 

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experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(c)           Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Underwriters an electronic copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement within a reasonable amount of time prior to the filing of such amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriters reasonably object.

 

(d)          To effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Securities Act in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirement of Rule 430A, and to take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, to promptly file such prospectus.

 

(e)           The Company will not make any offer relating to the Securities that constitutes or would constitute a free writing prospectus or a portion thereof required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

 

(f)            Not to take any action that would result in the Underwriters or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters that the Underwriters otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

 

(g)          If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission (subject to Section 6(c)) and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

 

(h)          If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities by the Underwriters or a dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission (subject to Section 6(c)) and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Underwriters will furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been sold by the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

 

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(i)            During such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities by the Underwriters or a dealer, the Company will, subject to Section 6(c), file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods prescribed by, and meeting the requirements of, the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of the net proceeds from the sale of any Securities as may be required under the Securities Act, including, if applicable, Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

 

(j)            To use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the sale of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement. Until the earliest of (i) the date on which the Underwriters shall have ceased to engage in market-making activities in respect of the Securities, (ii) the date on which the Securities are listed on Nasdaq (or any successor thereto), (iii) a going private transaction after the completion of a Business Combination, and (iv) the date of the Liquidation, in each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will use all commercially reasonable efforts to file and make such statements or reports at such times as are or may be required to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, unless the Underwriters agree that such action is not at the time necessary or advisable.

 

(k)          To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Underwriters as soon as practicable an earnings statement or statements of the Company which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

 

(l)            To promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the Restricted Period referred to in Section 6.

 

(m)         If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

(n)          The Company agrees that neither it nor any affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed, or might reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or any action that constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any Securities or a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

(o)          For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation (as defined below) occurs or the Company is acquired or completes a going private transaction in a transaction where the Common Stock is no longer outstanding (as applicable, the “Termination Date”), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the Units (unless all of the Units have been separated in connection with or prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination), the Common Stock and the Public Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act. Unless the Company is acquired or completes a going private transaction where the Common Stock is no longer outstanding, the Company will not deregister the Units, the Common Stock or the Public Warrants under the Exchange Act prior to the Termination Date without the prior written consent of the Representatives.

 

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(p)          The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering on the Closing Date. As soon as the Audited Balance Sheet becomes available, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four (4) business days after the Closing Date, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Current Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet. Additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the sale of all or any portion of the Additional Securities, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four (4) business days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Current Report shall disclose the Company’s sale of such Additional Securities and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom.

 

(q)          Until the Termination Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly reports and the mailing, if any, of quarterly financial information to the Company’s stockholders.

 

(r)            Until the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent such information or documents are not otherwise publicly available, upon written request from the Representatives, furnish to the Representatives copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Representatives: (i) a copy of such registration statements, financial statements and periodic and special reports as the Company shall be required to file with the Commission and from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any such class of its securities in their capacities as such; and (ii) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, all subject to the execution of a satisfactory confidentiality agreement. Any registration statements, financial statements, periodic and special reports or other additional documents referred to in the preceding sentence filed or furnished on the Commission’s EDGAR website will be considered furnished for the purposes of this Section 6(r).

 

(s)           Until the Termination Date, the Company shall retain a transfer and warrant agent.

 

(t)            The Company will not consummate an initial Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors unless it obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or from an independent accounting firm, that such Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. Other than as set forth in this Section 6(t), the Company shall not pay the Sponsor or its affiliates or any of the Company’s executive officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination; provided, however, that such officers, directors and affiliates (i) may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf, to the extent that such expenses do not exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the Trust Account, and (ii) may be repaid loans as described in the Registration Statement.

 

(u)          The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants received by it in a manner consistent in all material respects with the applications described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

(v)          For a period of 60 days following the Effective Date, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services, or has provided or will provide any investment banking, financial, advisory and/or consulting services to the Company, the Company agrees that it shall promptly provide to FINRA, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a notification prior to entering into the agreement or transaction relating to a potential Business Combination: (i) the identity of the person or entity providing any such services; (ii) complete details of all such services

 

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and copies of all agreements governing such services prior to entering into the agreement or transaction; and (iii) justification as to why the value received by any person or entity for such services is not underwriting compensation for the Offering.

 

(w)         The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement that the Company has with any person or entity to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services, or any investment banking, financial, advisory and/or consulting services, will be made in the tender offer materials or proxy statement, as applicable, which the Company may file with the Commission in connection with the Business Combination for purposes of offering redemption of Shares held by its stockholders or for soliciting stockholder approval, as applicable. To the extent that the Company discloses arrangements with respect to any of the Underwriters, the Company will provide the applicable Underwriter with an opportunity to review and comment on any such tender offer materials or proxy statement.

 

(x)          The Company shall advise FINRA, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters if it is aware that any 10% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a Member participating in the distribution of the Securities.

 

(y)          The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

(z)           During the period prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination or Liquidation, the Company may instruct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to release from the Trust Account, solely from interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, the amounts necessary to pay taxes. Otherwise, all funds held in the Trust Account (including any interest income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes) will remain in the Trust Account until the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation, or prior to such time, to the extent required to pay for the redemption of the Public Shares of Public Stockholders who properly redeem their Public Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Date (or twenty-seven (27) months from the Closing Date if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the Closing Date) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity; provided, however, that in the event of the Liquidation, up to $100,000 of interest income may be released to the Company if the proceeds of the Offering held by the Company outside of the Trust Account are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing the Company’s plan of dissolution.

 

(aa)        The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued Shares that are issuable upon exercise of any of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants outstanding from time to time, upon the conversion of the Founder Shares and pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement.

 

(bb)       Prior to the earlier of the consummation of an initial Business Combination and the Liquidation, the Company shall not issue any Shares, Warrants or any options or other securities convertible into Shares, or any shares of preferred stock, in each case, that participate in any manner in the Trust Account or that vote as a class with the Shares on a Business Combination.

 

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(cc)        Prior to the earlier of the consummation of an initial Business Combination and the Liquidation, the Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments made to any of the Sponsor, to the Company’s officers or directors, or to the Company’s or any of such other persons’ respective affiliates.

 

(dd)       The Company agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Securities Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.

 

(ee)        To the extent required by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(ff)         The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five (5) years from the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs, maintain the listing of the Securities (except after the consummation of the initial Business Combination), Public Shares and Public Warrants on Nasdaq.

 

(gg)       As soon as legally required to do so, the Company and its directors and officers, in their capacities as such, shall take all actions necessary to comply with any applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications, and to comply with the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.

 

(hh)       The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(ii)          The Company will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than independent accountants), prospective target businesses, lenders and other entities with which it does business enter into agreements waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Public Stockholders. The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company’s management shall have determined that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to the Company than any alternative.

 

(jj)          The Company, subject to any applicable provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, may consummate the initial Business Combination and conduct redemptions of Public Shares for cash upon consummation of such Business Combination without a stockholder vote pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission. Such tender offer documents will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each stockholder of the Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination to redeem the Public Shares held by such stockholder for an amount of cash equal to (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (x) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and (y) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by (B) the total number of Public Shares then outstanding. If, however, the Company elects not to file such tender offer documents, a stockholder vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules in connection with the initial Business Combination, or the Company decides to hold a stockholder vote for business or

 

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other legal reasons, the Company will submit such Business Combination to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Business Combination Vote”). With respect to the Business Combination Vote, if any, the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed to vote all of their Founder Shares and any other Shares they may acquire during or after the Offering in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer to each Public Stockholder holding Public Shares the right to have its Public Shares redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission at a per share redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to (I) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (1) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and (2) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of any taxes payable), divided by (II) the total number of Public Shares then outstanding. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company may proceed with such Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted by the stockholders at a duly held stockholders meeting are voted to approve such Business Combination. If, after seeking and receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem Public Shares, at the Redemption Price, from those Public Stockholders who affirmatively requested such redemption and did not validly withdraw. Only Public Stockholders holding Public Shares who properly exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Business Combination, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Business Combination, and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of shares of the Company in connection therewith. In the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination by twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Date (or twenty-seven (27) months from the Closing Date if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the Closing Date), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of 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 (net of amounts withdrawn to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, subject to an annual limit of $500,000, and/or to pay the Company’s taxes and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and subject to the requirement that any refund of income taxes that were paid from the Trust Account that is received after the redemption shall be distributed to the former Public Stockholders, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Only Public Stockholders holding Public Shares shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other shares of the Company. None of the Company, the Sponsor or the Company’s officers and directors will propose any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Date (or twenty-seven (27) months from the Closing Date if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the Closing Date), as described in Section 9.2(d) of the Certificate of Incorporation unless the Company offers the right to redeem in connection with such amendment.

 

(kk)       In the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (“Business Combination Announcement”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing or submission with the Commission announcing the consummation of a Business Combination that indicates that the Underwriters were the underwriters in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Representatives with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Representatives

 

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with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon, subject to the agreement of the Underwriters to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with the Representatives’ standard policies regarding confidential information.

 

(ll)          Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, upon the consummation of its initial Business Combination, the Company will direct AST to pay the Underwriters the Deferred Discount out of the proceeds of the Offering held in the Trust Account. The Underwriters shall have no claim to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account representing the Deferred Discount. If the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the Offering (or twenty-seven (27) months from the Closing Date if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the Closing Date), the Deferred Discount will not be paid to the Underwriters and will, instead, be included in the liquidation distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account made to the Public Stockholders. In connection with any such Liquidation, the Underwriters forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount. For purposes of this Agreement, “Liquidation” means the distributions of the Trust Account to the Public Stockholders in connection with the redemption of the Public Shares held by the Public Stockholders pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation if the Company fails to consummate an initial Business Combination.

 

(mm)   Upon the earlier to occur of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option, the Company shall cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of Founder Shares from the Sponsor, in an aggregate amount equal to the number of Founder Shares determined by multiplying (a) 750,000 by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,800,000 minus the number of Securities purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,800,000. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the Company shall not cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of any of the Founder Shares pursuant to this Section 6(mm).

 

(nn)       The Trust Agreement shall provide that the trustee is required to obtain a joint written instruction signed by each of the Company and the Representatives with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account from the Trust Account prior to commencing any liquidation of the assets of the Trust Account in connection with the Company’s consummation of any Business Combination.

 

(oo)       The Company will deliver to the Underwriters (or their agents), on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as the Underwriters may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.

 

The Company also covenants with the Underwriters that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, (x) during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Units, Warrants or Shares beneficially owned (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, Warrants or Shares or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of the applicable securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Units, Warrants or Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture of a portion of the Founder Shares pursuant to their terms and the Company may (1) issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants and the Forward Purchase Securities, (2) issue and sell the Additional Securities on exercise of the option provided for in Section 2 hereof and (3) issue securities in connection with an initial Business Combination, or (y) release the Sponsor or any officer or director of the Company from the 180-day lock-up contained in the Insider Letter.

 

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7.       Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(j) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and clearance of the offering of the Securities by FINRA (such fees and disbursements of counsel pursuant to this clause (iv) not to exceed $25,000), (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Units, the Public Shares and the Public Warrants and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Units, the Public Shares and Public Warrants on Nasdaq, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Securities, (vii) the costs and charges of any trustee, warrant agent, transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities or any “testing-the-waters”, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (x) all expenses in connection with any offer and sale of the Securities outside of the United States, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with offers and sales outside of the United States, and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section 7. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof (other than clauses (iv) or (v) thereof) or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 7, Section 9 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and Section 11 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of its counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

8.       Covenant of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

 

9.       Indemnity and Contribution.

 

(a)           The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer

 

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free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriters expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters consists of the information described as such in paragraph (b) below.

 

(b)          Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any road show or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the statements set forth in the first sentence of the first paragraph under the subcaption “Commission and Expenses” under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus and the statements set forth under the first sentence of the first paragraph and the first sentence of the sixth paragraph under the subcaption “Stabilization” under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus,1 constitute the only information furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriters, as such information is referred to in Sections 1 and 9 hereof.

 

(c)           In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a) or 9(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel,(ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, or (iii) there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such reasonably incurred and documented fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Underwriters, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such

 

25 

 

settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

 

(d)          To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9(a) or 9(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to the respective number of shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

 

(e)           The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 9(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that the Underwriters have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

(f)            The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, any person controlling the Underwriters or any affiliate of the Underwriters, or, by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

 

10.    Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if, after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date or any

 

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Option Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the NASDAQ Select Global Market or Nasdaq, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the Underwriters’ judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the Underwriters’ judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

 

11.    Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as Underwriters may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 11 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Securities and the aggregate number of Firm Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to Underwriters and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Securities are not made within 24 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company.  In any such case either Underwriters or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Securities and the aggregate number of Additional Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Securities that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default.  Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

 

12.    Entire Agreement.

 

(a)           This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Representatives with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the Offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

 

(b)          The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not an agent of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company

 

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or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company and (iv) none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

13.    Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter is a Covered Entity and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

In the event that any Underwriter is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter is permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

For purposes of this Section 13 a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

14.    Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

15.    Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

16.    Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

 

17.    Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Underwriters at: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; Deutsche Bank Securities Inc at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Equity Capital Markets – Syndicate Desk, with a copy to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: General Counsel, fax: (646) 374-1071 and Evercore Group

 

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18.    L.L.C. at Evercore, 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055, Attention: General Counsel, Investment Banking; if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to Bilander Acquisition Corp., 4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94111, Attention: James H. Greene, Jr.

 

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  Very truly yours,


BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.
   
   
  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
Name: Scott W. Wagner
Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted as of the date hereof.

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

 

By: /s/ Lauren Cummings  
  Name: Lauren Cummings
Title: Managing Director
 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By: /s/ Ravi Raghunathan  
  Name: Ravi Raghunathan
Title: Managing Director
 

 

By: /s/ Brandon Sun  
  Name: Brandon Sun
Title: Director
 

 

EVERCORE GROUP L.L.C.

 
By: /s/ Courtney D. McBean  
  Name: Courtney D. McBean
Title: Senior Managing Director
 

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

Schedule I

 

Underwriters 

Number of Firm
Securities To Be
Purchased 

   
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 8,250,000
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. 3,450,000
Evercore Group L.L.C. 3,300,000
Total:

15,000,000 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

Time of Sale Prospectus

 

Preliminary Prospectus dated July 6, 2021

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp. priced 15,000,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit plus an additional 2,250,000 Units if the underwriters exercises their over-allotment option in full.

 

 

 

SCHEDULE III

 

Schedule of Written Testing-The-Waters Communications

 

Reference is made to the materials used in the testing-the-waters presentations made to potential investors by the Company, to the extent such materials are deemed to be “written communications” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1 

  

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.

 

July 16, 2021

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. The name of the Corporation is “Bilander Acquisition Corp.” (the “Corporation”)

 

2.      This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 5, 2021, as amended on February 9, 2021 (the “Original Certificate”), was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

 

3.      This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

4.      The text of the Original Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Article I
Name

 

The name of the Corporation is Bilander Acquisition Corp.

 

Article II
Purpose

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business

 

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combination involving the Corporation and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”).

 

Article III
Registered Agent

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19801, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

Article IV
Capitalization

 

Section 4.1.          Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 221,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 220,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), including (i) 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value of $0.000075 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Section 4.2.          Preferred Stock. Subject to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock, one or more series of Preferred Stock, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.

 

Section 4.3.          Common Stock.

 

(a)            Voting.

 

(i)            Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation and Section 9.9), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.

 

(ii)            Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation and Section 9.9), the

 

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holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.

 

(iii)            Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation and Section 9.9), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

 

(b)            Class B Common Stock.

 

(i)            Conversion Upon Price Triggers.

 

(A)            Upon the occurrence of the First Price Trigger, 40% of the shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding upon completion of the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”) (including all shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Corporation’s independent directors) will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”). The “First Price Trigger” occurs if, during the period from the closing of the initial Business Combination to the ten year anniversary of the initial Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the Designated Exchange equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing any time after completion of the initial Business Combination. “Designated Exchange” means any U.S. national securities exchange in which the shares of Class A Common Stock are then listed.

 

(B)            Upon the occurrence of the Second Price Trigger, 40% of the shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding upon completion of the Offering will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the Initial Conversion Ratio. The “Second Price Trigger” occurs if, during the period from the closing of the initial Business

 

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Combination to the ten year anniversary of the initial Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the Designated Exchange equals or exceeds $15.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing any time after completion of the initial Business Combination.

 

(C)            Upon the occurrence of the Third Price Trigger, 20% of the shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding upon completion of the Offering will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the Initial Conversion Ratio. The “Third Price Trigger” (together with the First Price Trigger and the Second Price Trigger, the “Price Triggers”) occurs if, during the period from the closing of the initial Business Combination to the ten year anniversary of the initial Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the Designated Exchange equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing any time after completion of the initial Business Combination.

 

(ii)            In addition, in the event of a Strategic Transaction (as defined below) that results in all of the holders of the Class A Common Stock having the right to exchange their Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, any then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into Class A Common Stock, contemporaneously with the closing of such Strategic Transaction, at the Initial Conversion Ratio.

 

Strategic Transaction” means any Fundamental Transaction occurring following the consummation of the initial Business Combination other than (i) any reorganization, recapitalisation or reclassification of the shares of Class A Common Stock in which holders of the Corporation’s voting power immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalisation or reclassification continue after such reorganization, recapitalisation or reclassification to hold publicly traded shares and, directly or indirectly, are the holders of a majority of the voting power of the surviving or resulting entity (or entities) with the authority or voting power to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a company) of such entity or entities after such reorganization, recapitalisation or reclassification, (ii) pursuant to a domestication or migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Corporation or (iii) any transaction or series of related transactions which would result in a majority of the members of the Board or the board of directors of the combined or resulting entity following the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions being comprised of individuals who shall have not been members of the Board immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions.

 

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Fundamental Transaction” means:

 

(A)       that the Corporation shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving or resulting corporation) another Person; (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Corporation to one or more Persons; (iii) make, or allow one or more Persons to make, or allow the Corporation to be subject to or have the Class A Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Persons making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis), (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis) calculated as if any share of Class A Common Stock held by all Persons making or party to, or affiliated with any Person making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding or (z) such number of shares of Class A Common Stock such that all Persons making or party to, or affiliated with any Person making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis); (iv) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalisation, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Persons whereby all such Persons, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis), (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis) calculated as if any shares of Class A Common Stock held by all the Persons making or party to, or affiliated with any Person making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding or (z) such number of shares of Class A Common Stock such that the Persons become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis); or (v) reorganize, recapitalise or reclassify the shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

(B)       that the Corporation shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Person individually or the Persons in the aggregate to be or become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalisation, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalisation or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis), or (y) at least 50% of the aggregate voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Class A

 

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Common Stock (on an as converted basis) not held by all such Persons as of the date of the Corporation’s Business Combination calculated as if any shares of Class A Common Stock held by all such Persons were not outstanding; or

 

(C)       directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction.

 

Person” means any individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(iii)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, each share of Class B Common Stock that remains issued and outstanding as of the ten year anniversary of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination shall be forfeited by the holder who holds such share of Class B Common Stock for no consideration.

 

(iv)            Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or Equity-linked Securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”) and related to or in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which the issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically convert immediately following the occurrence of a Price Trigger or a Strategic Transaction will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock agree to waive such adjustments with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Class B Common Stock will equal, in the aggregate on an as-converted basis, the product of the Ownership Percentage and the sum of (a) the total number of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued in the Offering (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option) plus (b) the sum of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any Equity-linked Securities or rights issued or deemed issued in connection with or in relation to the consummation of a Business Combination (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to one or more forward purchase agreements), excluding any shares of Class A Common Stock or Equity-linked Securities or rights issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination in consideration for such seller’s interest in the Business Combination target, and any private placement warrants issued to Bilander Holdings, LLC (the

 

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Sponsor”), or an affiliate of the Sponsor or the Corporation’s officers and directors upon the conversion of working capital loans made to the Corporation.

 

The “Ownership Percentage” shall be equal to, with respect to any conversion of Class B Common Stock immediately following the occurrence a Price Trigger or a Strategic Transaction, the product of (A) 25% and (B) the quotient, the numerator of which shall be the aggregate number of issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such conversion and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding upon completion of the Offering.

 

As used herein, the term “Equity-linked Securities” means any securities of the Corporation which are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding consenting or agreeing separately as a single class in the manner provided in Section 4.3(b)(v), and (ii) in no event shall the Class B Common Stock convert into Class A Common Stock at a ratio that is less than one-for-one.

 

The Initial Conversion Ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

Each share of Class B Common Stock shall convert into its pro rata number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.3(b). The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Common Stock will be determined as follows: with respect to any conversion of Class B Common Stock immediately following the occurrence a Price Trigger or a Strategic Transaction, each share of Class B Common Stock shall convert into such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as is equal to the product of one (1) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which all of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such conversion shall be converted pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) and the denominator of which shall be the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such conversion.

 

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(v)            Voting. Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long as any shares of Class B Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other or special rights of the Class B Common Stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B Common Stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B Common Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Class B Common Stock were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or to the Secretary of the Corporation or another officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt written notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the holders of Class B Common Stock shall, to the extent required by law, be given to those holders of Class B Common Stock who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders of Class B Common Stock to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

 

(c)            Dividends. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.

 

(d)            Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis with respect to the Class B Common Stock) held by them.

 

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Section 4.4.          Rights, Warrants and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.

 

Article V
Board of Directors

 

Section 5.1.          Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

Section 5.2.          Number, Election and Term.

 

(a)            The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.

 

(b)            Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate; the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate; and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a

 

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decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at an annual meeting of stockholders by holders of the Common Stock. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.

 

(c)            Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.

 

Section 5.3.          Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

Section 5.4.          Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof and except as otherwise required by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including Section 9.9 hereof) any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 5.5.          Preferred Stock—Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.

 

Article VI
Bylaws

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the

 

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affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

Article VII
Special Meetings of Stockholders; Action by Written Consent

 

Section 7.1.          Special Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.

 

Section 7.2.          Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 7.3.          Action by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent to the consummation of the Offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders other than with respect to the Class B Common Stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.

 

Article VIII
Limited Liability; Indemnification

 

Section 8.1.          Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her actions as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely

 

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affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

Section 8.2.          Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

 

(a)            To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

(b)            The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

(c)            Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive

 

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basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

(d)            This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.

 

(e)            To the extent an indemnitee has rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by a third party, (i) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., that its obligations to an indemnitee are primary and any obligation of such third party to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by an indemnitee are secondary), (ii) the Corporation shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by an indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and reasonable expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the agreements to which the Corporation is a party, without regard to any rights an indemnitee may have against such third party and (iii) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases such third party from any and all claims against them for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. No advancement or payment by such third party on behalf of an indemnitee with respect to any claim for which an indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the foregoing, and such third party shall have a right of contribution and be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of an indemnitee against the Corporation.

 

Article IX
Business Combination Requirements; Existence

 

Section 9.1.          General.

 

(a)            The provisions of this Article IX shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article IX shall be effective prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

 

(b)            Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified

 

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in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2021, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the amounts withdrawn to fund the Corporation’s working capital requirements, subject to an annual limit of $500,000, and/or to pay the Corporation’s taxes (“Permitted Withdrawals”), none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within the 24 months from the closing of the Offering, or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Corporation has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (“Completion Window”) or (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate as described in Section 9.7. Holders of shares of the Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are affiliates or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.”

 

Section 9.2.          Redemption Rights.

 

(a)            Prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) hereof (the “Redemption Price”); provided, however, that the Corporation shall not redeem or repurchase Offering Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporation’s net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor rule)) to be less than $5,000,001 (such limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.

 

(b)            If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials with the SEC, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section

 

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9.2(a) hereof pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Tender Offer Rules”) which it shall commence prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Proxy Solicitation Rules”), even if such information is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 9.2(b). In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to the Corporation as Permitted Withdrawals, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares. If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares exercising their Redemption Rights (irrespective of whether they voted in favor or against the Business Combination) shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to the Corporation as Permitted Withdrawals, by (b) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

 

(c)            If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Offering Shares without the consent of the Corporation.

 

(d)            In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the Completion Window, the Corporation shall (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per share price,

 

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payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn as Permitted Withdrawals and less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), including interest, by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

 

(e)            If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial Business Combination (or such other vote as the applicable law or stock exchange rules then in effect may require) and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.

 

(f)             If the Corporation conducts a tender offer pursuant to Section 9.2(b), the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.

 

Section 9.3.          Distributions from the Trust Account.

 

(a)            A Public Stockholder shall be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in Sections 9.2(a), 9.2(b), 9.2(d) or 9.7 hereof. In no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions from the Trust Account, and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.

 

(b)            Each Public Stockholder that does not exercise its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its consent to the release of the remaining funds in the Trust Account to the Corporation, and following payment to any Public Stockholders exercising their Redemption Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to the Corporation.

 

(c)            The exercise by a Public Stockholder of the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions set forth by the Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to the proposed initial Business Combination. Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as practical after the consummation of the initial Business Combination.

 

Section 9.4.          Share Issuances. Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of

 

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capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any initial Business Combination, on any pre-Business Combination activity or on any amendment to this Article IX.

 

Section 9.5.          Transactions with Affiliates. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with an owner of Class B Common Stock, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.

 

Section 9.6.          No Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

 

Section 9.7.          Additional Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated Certificate to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to provide for the redemption of the Offering Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the Completion Window or with respect to any other material provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate relating to stockholder’s rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of amounts withdrawn as Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. The Corporation’s ability to provide such opportunity is subject to the Redemption Limitation.

 

Section 9.8.          Minimum Value of Target. The Corporation’s initial Business Combination must occur with one or more operating businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (net of amounts disbursed as Permitted Withdrawals and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination.

 

Section 9.9.          Appointment and Removal of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate, prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to elect and remove any director, and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall have no right to vote on the election or removal of any director. This Section 9.9 may be amended only by a resolution approved by a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.

 



 

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Article X

Business Combinations

 

Section 10.1.      Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation will not be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

Section 10.2.      Initial Business Combination. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate, any initial Business Combination shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, which must include a majority of the Board’s independent directors (or such other vote as applicable law or stock exchange rules then in effect may require).

 

Section 10.3.      Limitations on Business Combinations. Notwithstanding Section 10.1, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s common stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(a)            prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

(b)            upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers of the Corporation or (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

 

(c)            or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Section 10.4.      Definitions. For the purposes of this Article X:

 

(a)            affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(b)            associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar

 

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fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(c)            business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder, means:

 

(i)            any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Article XI is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(ii)            any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

(iii)            any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

(iv)            any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a

 

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result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

 

(v)            any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees or pledges (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

(d)            control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(e)            interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) the Principal Stockholder or Principal Stockholder Transferees or any “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) that includes any Principal Stockholder or Principal Stockholder Transferee or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that such person specified in this clause (b) shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

(f)             owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

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(i)            beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(ii)            has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten or more persons; or

 

(iii)            has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(g)            person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(h)            stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(i)             Principal Stockholder” means, collectively, (i) the Sponsor, (ii) James H. Greene, Jr., and (iii) any affiliate or successor of a person referenced in clauses (i) through (ii) of this definition.

 

(j)             Principal Stockholder Transferee” means any Person who acquires voting stock of the Corporation from the Principal Stockholder (other than in connection with a public offering) and who is designated in writing by the Principal Stockholder as a “Principal Stockholder Transferee.”

 

(k)            voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Article XI
Corporate Opportunity

 

To the fullest extent allowed by law (including without limitation Section 122(17) of the DGCL, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the

 

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directors or officers of the Corporation, or any of their respective affiliates, will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation only with respect to a corporate opportunity that was offered to such person solely and exclusively in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.

 

Article XII
Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XII; provided, however, that Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as provided therein.

 

Article XIII
Exclusive Forum for Certain Lawsuits

 

Section 13.1.      Forum. Subject to the last sentence in this Section 13.1, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, except for any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the

 

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foregoing, (i) the provisions of this Section 13.1 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 courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Section 13.2.      Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 13.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 13.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIII.

 

Article XIV
Severability

 

If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of this Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their faithful service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bilander Acquisition Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

  BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
  Name: Scott W. Wagner
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

[Signature Page to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.

 

and

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of July 15, 2021

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 15, 2021 is by and between Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, on July 15, 2021 the Company entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, with Bilander Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), pursuant to which Sponsor will purchase an aggregate of up to 3,800,000 warrants (including up to 300,000 warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option (as defined below)) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option) (as defined below), if applicable), bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended Business Combination, the Sponsor or affiliates of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 may be convertible into up to an additional 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant;

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one share of Common Stock (as defined below) and one-fourth of one redeemable Public Warrant (as defined below) (collectively, the “Units”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 4,312,500 warrants (including up to 562,500 warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option (as defined below)) to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), for $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole warrants are exercisable. A holder of the Public Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253419 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants and the shares of Common Stock included in the Units;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                  Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the express terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.                  Warrants.

 

2.1              Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only. Warrants may be represented by one or more physical definitive certificates or by book entry.

 

2.2              Effect of Countersignature. If a physical definitive certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent, either by manual or facsimile signature, pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant certificate shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

 

2.3              Registration.

 

2.3.1                 Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. All of the Public Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more book entry certificates deposited with the Depository and registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary (as defined below). Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (i) the Depositary or its nominee for each book-entry certificate or (ii) institutions that have accounts with The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”).

 

If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.

 

The physical definitive certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, the President or the Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

2.3.2                 Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on any physical definitive certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

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2.4              Detachability of Warrants. The shares of Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Evercore Group L.L.C. but in no event shall the shares of Common Stock and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units in the Offering (the “Over-allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and a second or amended current report on Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the Underwriters’ Over-allotment option, if the Over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such current report on Form 8-K and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

2.5              Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each of which is comprised of one share of Common Stock and one-fourth of one Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from the Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.

 

2.6              Private Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the Sponsor or any of its Permitted Transferees (as defined below) the Private Placement Warrants: (i) may be exercised on a cashless basis, pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) hereof, (ii) may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination (as defined below), and (iii) shall not be redeemable by the Company (except as set forth in Section 6, below); providedhowever, that in the case of (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:

 

(a)               to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members of the Sponsor, or any affiliates of the Sponsor;

 

(b)               in the case of an individual, transfers by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization;

 

(c)               in the case of an individual, transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual;

 

(d)               in the case of an individual, transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;

 

(e)               transfers by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased;

 

(f)                transfers in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination;

 

(g)               transfers by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor;

 

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(h)               in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination; and

 

(i)                 to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (h) above; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) and (i), these permitted transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.

 

3.                  Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.1              Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share described in the prior sentence at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.

 

3.2              Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar transaction, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and (B) terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (w) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (x) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination, and (y) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants, the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); providedhowever, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant, except as set forth in Section 6 below) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Sponsor Warrant in the event of a redemption, except as set forth in Section 6 below) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become null and void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants, and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

 

3.3              Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.3.1                 Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by surrendering it at the office of the Warrant Agent or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, together with (i) an election to purchase form, duly executed, electing to exercise such Warrant; and (ii) payment in full of the Warrant Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the

 

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Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, as follows:

 

(a)               in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or by wire;

 

(b)              [reserved]

 

(c)               with respect to any Private Placement Warrant, so long as such Sponsor Warrant is held by the Sponsor or a Permitted Transferee, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c), over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average closing price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent;

 

(d)         on a cashless basis, as provided in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise; or

 

(e)               on a cashless basis, as provided in Section 7.4 hereof.

 

The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for warrant exercises in a given month by the 5th business day of the following month by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company.

 

3.3.2                 Issuance of Shares of Common Stock on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. If fewer than all the Warrants evidenced by a book-entry Warrant are exercised, a notation shall be made to the records maintained by the Depositary, its nominee to each book-entry Warrant, or a Participant, as appropriate, evidencing the balance of the Warrants remaining after such exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and (b) a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the shares of Common Stock underlying such Unit. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Public Warrants may exercise its Public Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Common Stock. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis,” the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company

 

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shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

3.3.3                 Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3.3.4                 Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or book entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book entry system are open.

 

3.3.5                 Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not affect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates) to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of issued and outstanding Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of issued and outstanding Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of Common Stock issued and outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; providedhowever, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.

 

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4.                  Adjustments.

 

4.1              Stock Dividends.

 

4.1.1                 Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of shares of Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the shares of Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

 

4.1.2                 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the shares of Common Stock on account of such shares of Common Stock (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the shares of Common Stock in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the shares of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering if the Company does not complete the Business Combination within the period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering).

 

4.2              Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar

 

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event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

4.3              Adjustments in Warrant Price.

 

4.3.1       Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

 4.3.2 If (i) the Company issues additional shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Common Stock, (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board and in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by such holder or affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “New Issuance Price”), (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 the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation thereof (net of redemptions) and (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the initial Business Combination (such price, the "Market Value") is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of the Market Value and the New Issuance Price and the Redemption Trigger Price (as defined below) shall be adjusted to equal to 115% of the greater of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.1 and Section 6.5 shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.2 shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

 

4.4              Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change under Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or conversion of the Company into another type of entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance” ); providedhowever, that (i) if the holders of the shares of Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the shares of Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the shares of Common Stock (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the Company as provided for in the Company’s amended and restated

 

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certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the shares of Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4providedfurther, that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the shares of Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference, if positive, of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below) (which amount determined under this clause (ii) shall not be less than zero). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (1) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each share of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the shares of Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.24.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

4.5              Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based; providedhowever, that no adjustment to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant shall be required until cumulative adjustments amount to 1% or more of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant as last adjusted; providedfurther, that any such adjustments that are not made are carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all such carried forward adjustments shall be made (i) in connection with any subsequent adjustment that (taken together with such carried forward adjustments) would result in a change of at least 1% in the number of shares of

 

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Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant and (ii) on the exercise date of any Warrant. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.14.24.3 or 4.4 in connection with which an adjustment is made to the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

 

4.6              No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

4.7              Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; providedhowever, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

4.8              Other Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment; providedhowever, that under no circumstances shall the Warrants be adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.8(ii) as a result of any issuance of securities in connection with a Business Combination or (ii) solely as a result of an adjustment to the conversion ratio of the Company’s Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, into Common Stock. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.

 

5.                  Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

 

5.1              Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, in the case of certificated warrants, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

5.2              Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; providedhowever, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

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5.3              Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant, except as part of the Units.

 

5.4              Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

 

5.5              Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5.6              Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment Date.

 

6.                  Redemption.

 

6.1              Redemption of Warrants for Cash. Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that the closing price of the Common Stock reported has been at least $18.00 per share (the “Redemption Trigger Price”; subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days, within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.2 below).

 

6.2              Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.5, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (such 30-day period, the “Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. As used in this Agreement, (a) “Redemption Price” shall mean the price per Warrant at which any Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.5 and (b) “Reference Value” shall mean the closing price of the Common Stock on the trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given.

 

6.3              Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1, the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof) in such case. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.

 

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6.4              Exclusion of Private Placement Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in Section 6.1 shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees. However, once such Private Placement Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees under subsection 2.6), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants to exercise the Private Placement Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.1. Private Placement Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement.

 

6.5. Redemption of Warrants for $0.10. Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 above, at a Redemption Price of $0.10 per Warrant, provided that the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof). During the 30-day Redemption Period in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6.5, Registered Holders of the Warrants may elect to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and receive a number of shares of Common Stock determined by reference to the table below, based on the Redemption Date (calculated for purposes of the table as the period to expiration of the Warrants) and the “Redemption Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in this Section 6.5) (a “Make-Whole Exercise”). Solely for purposes of this Section 6.5, the “Redemption Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days immediately following the date on which notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 6.5 is sent to the Registered Holders. In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 6.5, the Company shall provide the Registered Holders with the Redemption Fair Market Value no later than one (1) Business Day after the ten (10) trading day period described above ends.

 

Redemption Date Fair Market Value of Class A Common Stock
(period to expiration of warrants) <10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 >18.00
60 months 0.261 0.281 0.297 0.311 0.324 0.337 0.348 0.358 0.361
57 months 0.257 0.277 0.294 0.310 0.324 0.337 0.348 0.358 0.361
54 months 0.252 0.272 0.291 0.307 0.322 0.335 0.347 0.357 0.361
51 months 0.246 0.268 0.287 0.304 0.320 0.333 0.346 0.357 0.361
48 months 0.241 0.263 0.283 0.301 0.317 0.332 0.344 0.356 0.361
45 months 0.235 0.258 0.279 0.298 0.315 0.330 0.343 0.356 0.361
42 months 0.228 0.252 0.274 0.294 0.312 0.328 0.342 0.355 0.361
39 months 0.221 0.246 0.269 0.290 0.309 0.325 0.340 0.354 0.361
36 months 0.213 0.239 0.263 0.285 0.305 0.323 0.339 0.353 0.361
33 months 0.205 0.232 0.257 0.280 0.301 0.320 0.337 0.352 0.361
30 months 0.196 0.224 0.250 0.274 0.297 0.316 0.335 0.351 0.361
27 months 0.185 0.214 0.242 0.268 0.291 0.313 0.332 0.350 0.361
24 months 0.173 0.204 0.233 0.260 0.285 0.308 0.329 0.348 0.361
21 months 0.161 0.193 0.223 0.252 0.279 0.304 0.326 0.347 0.361
18 months 0.146 0.179 0.211 0.242 0.271 0.298 0.322 0.345 0.361
15 months 0.130 0.164 0.197 0.230 0.262 0.291 0.317 0.342 0.361
12 months 0.111 0.146 0.181 0.216 0.250 0.282 0.312 0.339 0.361

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9 months 0.090 0.125 0.162 0.199 0.237 0.272 0.305 0.336 0.361
6 months 0.065 0.099 0.137 0.178 0.219 0.259 0.296 0.331 0.361
3 months 0.034 0.065 0.104 0.150 0.197 0.243 0.286 0.326 0.361
0 months 0.042 0.115 0.179 0.233 0.281 0.323 0.361

 

The exact Redemption Fair Market Value and Redemption Date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the Redemption Fair Market Value is between two values in the table or the Redemption Date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued for each Warrant exercised in a Make-Whole Exercise shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower Redemption Fair Market Values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable.

 

The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table above shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant or the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table above shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant. If the Exercise Price of a warrant is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3.2 hereof, the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the denominator of which is $10.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.1.2 hereof, the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment less the decrease in the Exercise Price pursuant to such Exercise Price adjustment. In no event shall the number of shares issued in connection with a Make-Whole Exercise exceed 0.361 shares of Common Stock per Warrant (subject to adjustment)

 

7.                  Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

 

7.1              No Rights as Stockholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

7.2              Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, and countersigned by the Warrant Agent. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone. Warrant Agent may, at its option, countersign replacement Warrants for mutilated certificates upon presentation thereof without such indemnity.

 

7.3              Reservation of Shares of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.4              Registration of Shares of Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option.

 

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7.4.1                 Registration of Shares of Common Stock. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the 60th Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 61st Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) or another exemption) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average closing price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is sent to the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not (and has not been during the preceding three months) an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.

 

7.4.2                 Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option. If the shares of Common Stock are at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute), the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) as described in subsection 7.4.1 and (i) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary or (ii) if the Company does not so elect, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify for sale the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under the blue sky laws of the state of residence of the exercising Public Warrant holder to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

8.                  Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

 

8.1              Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company and the

 

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Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.

 

8.2              Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

 

8.2.1                 Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of ninety (90) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be authorized under applicable laws to exercise the powers of a transfer agent and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

8.2.2                 Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Company’s transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

8.2.3                 Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

 

8.3              Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

 

8.3.1                 Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

8.3.2                 Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4              Liability of Warrant Agent.

 

8.4.1                 Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or

 

15 

 

desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, the President or the Secretary or other principal officer of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4.2                 Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own, or its representatives’, gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or material breach of this Agreement. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s, or its representatives’, gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or material breach of this Agreement.

 

8.4.3                 Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

8.5              Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.

 

8.6              Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.

 

9.                  Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

9.1              Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

9.2              Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp.

Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100

 

16 

 

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attention: Scott W. Wagner

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017
Attention: Derek J. Dostal, Esq. and Yan Zhang, Esq.

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Attention: Corporate Actions

 

in each case, with copy to:

 

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Samir Gandhi, Esq., Michael Heinz, Esq. and Keith DeLeon, Esq.

 

9.3              Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph 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 the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (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.

 

9.4              Compliance and Confidentiality. The Warrant Agent shall perform its duties under this Agreement in compliance with all applicable laws and keep confidential all information relating to this Agreement and, except as required by applicable law, shall not use such information for any purpose other than the performance of the Warrant Agent’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

17 

 

9.5              Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

 

9.6              Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

 

9.7              Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.

 

9.8              Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

9.9              Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of at least a majority of the number of the then outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants, at least a majority of the number of then outstanding Private Placement Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

 

9.10          Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

Exhibit A   Form of Warrant Certificate

 

Exhibit B    Legend — Private Placement Warrants

 

18 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

  BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:   /s/ Scott W. Wagner  
    Name: Scott W. Wagner
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Michael A. Nespoli  
    Name: Michael A. Nespoli
    Title: Executive Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO WARRANT AGREEMENT]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Warrant Certificate

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

CUSIP [--]

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Warrant Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Warrant Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

20 

 

[Form of Warrant]

 

The initial Warrant Price per share of Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Warrant Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become null and void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

  BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.  
     
  By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  
     
  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC  
     
  By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

 

 

[Form of Warrant]

 

21 

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of      , 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, as warrant agent (or successor warrant agent) (collectively, the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Warrant Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the designated office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the designated office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other third-party charges imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.

 

22 

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) in the amount of $__________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of _________, whose address is _______________________ and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered to _________ whose address is _______________________. If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of ____________, whose address is ________________, and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to __________, whose address is ___________________.

 

In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Warrant Agreement and a holder thereof elects to exercise its Warrant pursuant to a Make-Whole Exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) or Section 6.5 of the Warrant Agreement, as applicable.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock. If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of ________________, whose address is ___________, and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to ____________, whose address is ______________.

 

Date: (Signature)
  (Address)

 

(Tax Identification Number)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO SEC RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT, OF 1934, AS AMENDED).

 

EXHIBIT B

 

23 

 

LEGEND

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP. (THE “COMPANY”), BILANDER ACQUISITION, LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.

 

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

 

24 

Exhibit 10.1 

 

July 15, 2021

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp.

Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100

San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 780-9975

 

Re: Initial Public Offering

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by and among Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Evercore Group L.L.C. (collectively, the “Representatives”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of 17,250,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 2,250,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole Warrant (each, a “Warrant”) entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units will be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Company has applied to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Representatives to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Bilander Holdings, LLC (the “Sponsor”) and each of the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby severally (and not jointly and severally) agrees with the Company as follows:

 

1.                   The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Capital Stock owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in connection with such stockholder approval. If the Company seeks to consummate a proposed Business Combination by engaging in a tender offer, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she will not sell or tender any shares of Capital Stock owned by it, him or her in connection therewith.

 

 1

 

2.                   The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or 27 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination, or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of amounts withdrawn to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, subject to an annual limit of $500,000, and/or to pay the Company’s taxes (“Permitted Withdrawals”) and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agree to not propose any amendment to the Charter that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the required time period set forth in the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

 

The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waive, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock (although the Sponsor, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business

 

 2

 

Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity).

 

3.                   During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives,

 

(i)  sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Capital Stock, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Capital Stock, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii).

 

4.                   In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Sponsor or any other Insider) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) any prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement for a Business Combination (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor (x) shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Offering Share or (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets less Permitted Withdrawals, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party (including a Target) that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Representatives against certain

 

 3

 

liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

 

5.                   To the extent that the Representatives do not exercise their over- allotment option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to the product of 750,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 2,250,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Representatives upon the exercise of its over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 2,250,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Representatives so that the Initial Stockholders will own an aggregate of 25.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock after the Public Offering. To the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will effect a capitalization or share repurchase, redemption or stock split or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of the Capital Stock of the Initial Stockholders prior to the Public Offering at 25.0% of the Company’s

 

issued and outstanding Capital Stock upon the consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, (A) references to 2,250,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15% of the number of shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 750,000 in the formula set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor would have to return to the Company in order to hold (with all of the

 

Initial Stockholders) an aggregate of 25.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Capital Stock after the Public Offering.

 

6.                   (a) The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the Representatives and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7(a), 7(b), and 9, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement(ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii)  the non- breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

7.                   (a) The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it or he shall not Transfer any Founder Shares; provided, that any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Founder Shares will not be subject to such

 

 4

 

restrictions on Transfer after one year has passed since the completion of the initial Business Combination (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”). In addition, all of the Founder Shares will be released on the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

(b)               The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Warrants (or shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (the “Private Placement Warrants Lock-up Period”, together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).

 

(c)                Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 3 and 7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(c)), are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members of the Sponsor, or any affiliates of the Sponsor; (b) in the case of an individual, transfers by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;

 

(e) transfers by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) transfers in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination; (g) transfers by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; (h) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the initial business combination; (i) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (h) above; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (d) and (i), these permitted transferees must enter into

 

 5

 

a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein and the other restrictions contained in this Agreement (including provisions relating to voting, the Trust Account and liquidating distributions).

 

8.                   The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any

 

material information with respect to the Insider’s background. The Sponsor and each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that: it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.

 

9.                   Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider, nor any director or officer of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the following, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan and advances of up to $350,000 made to the Company by the Sponsor to cover expenses related to the organization of the Company and the Public Offering; reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and consummating an initial Business Combination, and repayment of loans, if any, and on such terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, provided, that, if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.

 

 6

 

10.               The Sponsor and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or a director of the Company.

 

11.               As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Capital Stock” shall mean, collectively, the Common Stock and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.000075 per share, (or 5,000,000 shares if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the Representatives) initially held by the Sponsor and independent director and/or director nominees of the Company; (iv) “Initial Stockholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any other holder of Founder Shares immediately prior to the Public Offering; (v) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants to purchase up to 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (or 3,800,000 shares of Common Stock if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $5,250,000 in the aggregate (or $5,700,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $1.50 per warrant, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (vi) “Public Stockholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering;

 

(vii)     “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants shall be deposited; and

 

(viii)     “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).

 

12.               This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to

 

 7

 

correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

13.               Except as otherwise provided herein, no party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

14.               Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or entity other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

15.               This Letter Agreement may be executed (including via e-signature) in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

16.               This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

17.               This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

18.               Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.

 

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19.               This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by November 30, 2021; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation for a period of six years.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Sincerely,
   
 

BILANDER HOLDINGS, LLC

 

By: Shipyard Advisors, L.P., its managing member

 

 

By:

/s/ James H. Greene, Jr.

    Name: James H. Greene, Jr.
    Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer

 

  By: /s/ James H. Greene Jr.
              James H. Greene, Jr.
     
 

By:

/s/ Rufina Adams

    Rufina Adams

 

  By: /s/ Lee Kirkpatrick
    Lee Kirkpatrick

 

  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
    Scott W. Wagner

 

  By: /s/ Darren Thompson
    Darren Thompson

 

  By: /s/ Alexi Wellman
    Alexi Wellman

 

  By: /s/ Brandon Van Buren
    Brandon Van Buren

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.  
   
By: Scott W. Wagner  
  Name: Scott W. Wagner  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement] 

Exhibit 10.2

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of July 15, 2021 by and between Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (the “Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253419 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Evercore Group L.L.C. (the “Representatives”); and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $150,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $172,500,000 if the Representatives’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Stockholders,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $5,250,000, or $6,037,500 if the Representatives’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be payable by the Company to the Representatives upon and concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

1.            Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a)            Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. (or at another U.S. – chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;

 

(b)            Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

(c)            In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in solely United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company, it being understood that the Trustee has no obligation to monitor or question the Company’s determination that an investment is in compliance with the foregoing clause; the Company

 

1 

 

shall not instruct the Trustee to invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credit or other consideration;

 

(d)            Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

 

(e)            As soon as practicable notify the Company and the Representatives of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f)             Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;

 

(g)            Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;

 

(h)            Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

 

(i)             Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer of the Company and, in the case of Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Representatives and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn in accordance with this Agreement (including up to $500,000 per annum for working capital purposes) and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (i) 24 months after the closing of the Offering or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering and (ii) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn in accordance with this Agreement (including up to $500,000 per annum for working capital purposes)and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date;

 

(j)             Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which such payment the Company shall forward to the relevant taxing authority; providedhowever, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution, so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount initially deposited in the Trust account; providedfurther, that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the franchise tax bill from the relevant taxing authority for the Company. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;

 

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(k)            Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to fund working capital compliance requirements (a “Working Capital Withdrawal”), which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company; providedhowever, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to fund such Working Capital Withdrawal, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution, so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount initially deposited in the Trust account. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; provided, further, that Working Capital Withdrawal shall not exceed $500,000 per annum;

 

(l)             Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit E (a “Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute to the Public Stockholders on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public Stockholders properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares of Common Stock if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation or with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and

 

(m)            Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i)(j)(k) or (l) above.

 

2.            Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a)            Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Secretary. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j), 1(k) and 1(l) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any such written instructions and, further, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;

 

(b)            Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s, or its representatives’, gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; providedfurther that the Company may conduct and manage the defense against any Indemnified Claim if the Trustee does not promptly take reasonable steps to mount such a defense. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company. The Company may participate in any such action with its own counsel;

 

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(c)            Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial set-up fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until the property is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial set-up fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The Trustee shall refund to the Company the annual administration fee (on a pro rata basis) with respect to any period after the liquidation of the Trust Account. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c)Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;

 

  

 

(d)            In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such stockholders regarding such Business Combination;

 

(e)            Provide the Representatives with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;

 

(f)             Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Representatives, ensure that any Instruction Letter delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly to the accounts as directed by the Representatives prior to any transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account to the Company or any other person;

 

(g)            Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement; and

 

(h)            Within four (4) business days after the Representatives exercise the over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Discount, which shall in no event be less than $5,250,000, or $6,037,500 if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full.

 

3.             Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a)           Perform any implied duties or obligations, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;

 

(b)            Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s, or its representatives’, gross negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct;

 

(c)            Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any reasonably incurred expenses incident thereto;

 

(d)       Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with Section 1 hereof, and in no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its maturity date or the failure of the Company to provide timely written investment instruction

 

(e)            Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

 

  

 

4 

 

(f)            Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

 

(g)             The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s, or its representatives’, gross negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

(h)            Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;

 

(i)            Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(j)             File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;

 

(k)             Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or

 

(l)            Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i)1(j)1(k) and 1(l) hereof.

 

4.            Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

 

5.            Termination and Replacement of Trustee. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

(a)            If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements and any other reasonable transfer requests that the Company may make, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; providedhowever, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or

 

5 

 

(b)            At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).

 

6.            Miscellaneous.

 

(a)            The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s, or its representatives’, gross negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.

 

(b)            This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

(c)            This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(d)            Sections 1(i) and 1(l) hereof may only be changed, amended or modified pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof with the Consent of the Stockholders, it being the specific intention of the parties hereto that each of the Company’s stockholders is, and shall be, a third party beneficiary of this Section 6(d) with the same right and power to enforce this Section 6(d) as the other parties hereto. For purposes of this Section 6(d), the “Consent of the Stockholders” means receipt by the Trustee of a certificate from the inspector of elections of the stockholder meeting certifying that either (i) the Company’s stockholders of record as of a record date established in accordance with Section 213(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (“DGCL”) (or any successor rule), who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class, have voted in favor of such change, amendment or modification, or (ii) the Company’s stockholders of record as of the record date who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class, have delivered to such entity a signed writing approving such change, amendment or modification. No such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his election to redeem his share of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote sought to amend the Certificate of Incorporation. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s, or its representatives’, gross negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct, the Trustee may rely conclusively on the certification from the inspector or elections referenced above and shall be relieved of all liability to any party for executing the proposed amendment in reliance thereon.

 

(e)            The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, County of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

(f)             Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by facsimile transmission:

 

6 

 

  if to the Trustee, to:
   
    American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
    6201 15th Avenue
    Brooklyn, NY 11219
    Attn:  Relationship Management
    Email: admin12@astfinancial.com
     
  if to the Company, to:
   
   

Bilander Acquisition Corp.

Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attn: Scott W. Wagner

   
  in each case, with copies to:
   
    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
    1345 Avenue of the Americas
    New York, New York 10105
    Attn: Derek Dostal, Esq. and Yan Zhang, Esq.
     
    and
     
   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

2725 Sand Hill Road, Suites 100 & 200, 2nd Floor

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Attn: Jacob Wheeler

 

and

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street. 42nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

Attn: Brandon Sun

 

and

 

Evercore Group L.L.C.

55 East 52nd St

New York, NY 10055

Attn: Stu Francis

     
  in each case, with copies to:
     
   

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Samir Gandhi, Esq., Michael Heinz, Esq. and Keith DeLeon, Esq.

7 

 

(g)            Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.

 

(h)            Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

 

(i)            The Trustee shall perform its duties under this Agreement in compliance with all applicable laws and keep confidential all information relating to this Agreement and, except as required by applicable law, shall not use such information for any purpose other than the performance of the Trustee’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

(j)            Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.

 

(k)            This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

8 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Trustee
     
  By:  /s/ Michael A. Nespoli
    Name: Michael A. Nespoli
    Title: Executive Director
   
  Bilander Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:  /s/ Scott W. Wagner
    Name: Scott W. Wagner
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item Time and method of payment Amount
Initial set-up fee. Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer. $3,500.00
Trustee administration fee Payable annually.  First year fee payable at initial closing of Offering by wire transfer; thereafter, payable by wire transfer or check. $8,000.00
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i)1(j)1(k) and 1(l)  Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 1 $300.00
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(l) Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(l) Prevailing rates

 

Sch. A-1

 

10 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No.       Termination Letter

Dear Mr. ____ 

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Trustee”), dated as of        , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [insert name] (the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account, and to transfer the proceeds into the trust operating account at JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date (including as directed to it by the Representatives) (with respect to the Deferred Discount). It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account at JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.

 

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) [an affidavit] [a certificate] of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) a joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representatives with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of amounts owed to public stockholders who have properly exercised their redemptions rights and payment of amounts of the Deferred Discount to the underwriter from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated. 

 

In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such written instruction as soon thereafter as possible.

 

11 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Bilander Acquisition Corp.
   
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

  Acknowledged:  
    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
     
     
  By:  
     Name:
     Title:

 

    Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
     
     
  By:  
     Name:
   

 Title:

 

    Evercore Group L.L.C.
     
     
  By:  
     Name:
     Title:

 

 

Ex. A-2

12 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company] [Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No.       Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr.  ______:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Trustee”), dated as of        , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a Target Business within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected [insert completion deadline] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement.

 

  Very truly yours,  
     
  Bilander Acquisition Corp.  
     
     
  By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

cc:    
  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC  
  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.  
  Evercore Group L.L.C.  

 

EX. B-1

13 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company] [Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No.       Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction

Dear Mr. _____:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Trustee”), dated as of        , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $___________ of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The Company needs such funds [to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement]. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:

 

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

  Very truly yours,  
     
  Bilander Acquisition Corp.  
     
     
  By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

cc:    
  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC  
  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.  
  Evercore Group L.L.C.  

 

Ex. C-1

14 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company] [Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No.       Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction

Dear Mr. _____:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Trustee”), dated as of        , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $___________ of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The Company needs such funds to fund its working capital requirements. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:

 

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

  Very truly yours,  
     
  Bilander Acquisition Corp.  
     
     
  By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

cc:    
  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC  
  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.  
  Evercore Group L.L.C.  

 

Ex. D-1 

15 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

[Letterhead of Company] [Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Attn: Relationship Management 

 

  Re: Trust Account No.       Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction

Dear Mr. _____:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(l) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Trustee”), dated as of        , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders of the Company $__________ of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries for distribution to the Stockholders who have requested redemption of their shares. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter.

 

  Bilander Acquisition Corp.  
     
     
  By:    
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

cc:    
  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC  
  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.  
  Evercore Group L.L.C.  

 

Ex. E-1 

16 

Exhibit 10.3

 

REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 15, 2021, is made and entered into by and among Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereof, the “Company”), Bilander Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and the undersigned parties listed under Holder on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Sponsor have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2021 pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares after giving effect to stock-splits occurring on or prior to the date hereof (the “Founder Shares”) of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.000075 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”) (up to 750,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised), 50,000 of which were subsequently transferred to certain of the Company’s independent directors;

 

WHEREAS, the Founder Shares are convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation;

 

WHEREAS, on July 15, 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 3,000,000 warrants (or up to 3,500,000 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”), in a private placement occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering;

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officer and directors may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants (“Working Capital Warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per warrant;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and certain forward purchasers have entered in certain forward purchase agreements in connection with the Company’s initial public offering pursuant to which the Company has granted to such forward purchasers certain registration rights as described herein, which may result in the forward purchasers being considered as Holders hereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

 

 1

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1              Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Action” means any claim, action, suit, audit, examination, assessment, arbitration, mediation, proceeding, or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Combination” shall mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.

 

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law or regulation to close in the City of New York, New York.

 

Class B Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble; provided, that for purposes of Article IV and Article VI, the term “Company” shall be deemed to include (x) each of its parent companies, (y) each of its subsidiaries and (z) each successor of each of the foregoing, in each case, from time to time).

 

 2

 

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.

 

Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof.

 

Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, the period prior to the later of (i) conversion of the Founder Shares to Common Stock or (ii) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination; notwithstanding the foregoing, on the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, the Founder Shares shall be released from lock-up.

 

Governing Documents” shall mean, the legal document(s) by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs. For example, the “Governing Documents” of a corporation are its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the “Governing Documents” of a limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, the “Governing Documents” of a limited liability company are its operating agreement and certificate of formation.

 

Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of February 9, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees.

 

Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

 

Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

Permitted Transferees” shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, and pursuant to the Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and

 

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the Company, in each case for so long as such agreements remain in effect, and to any transferee thereafter.

 

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants and that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.

 

Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares, (b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (c) any outstanding share of Common Stock or any other equity security (including, without limitation, the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security, units comprising shares of Common Stock and warrants, and warrants) of the Company held by a Holder from time to time, (d) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company by a Holder (including the Working Capital Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Working Capital Warrants), (e) shares of Common Stock which may be issuable to certain forward purchasers under the forward purchase agreements and (f) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities have been sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated by the Commission); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

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Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A)             all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

(B)              fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C)              printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(D)             reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E)              reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

(F)              reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

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Working Capital Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS

 

2.1           Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1        Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, the Holders of at least 50% in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within three (3) Business Days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

2.1.2        Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such

 

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Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

 

2.1.3        Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.

 

2.1.4        Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) holds prior to such Underwritten Registration) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.1.5        Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to

 

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withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.

 

2.2          Piggyback Registration.

 

2.2.1        Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than three (3) Business Days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

2.2.2        Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof,

 

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and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

(a)               If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof and Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each stockholder holds prior to such Underwritten Registration), which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(b)               If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 and Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each stockholder holds prior to such Underwritten Registration), which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.2.3        Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

 

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2.2.4        Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.

 

2.3              Registrations on Form S-3. The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission if so requested), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”). Within three (3) Business Days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S--3, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $25,000,000.

 

Any request for an underwritten offering pursuant to a Form S-3 shall follow the procedures of Section 2.1 (including Section 2.1.4) but shall not count against the number of long form Demand Registrations that may be made pursuant to Section 2.1.1.

 

2.4              Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer

 

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such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.

 

ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1            General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1        prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

 

3.1.2        prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

3.1.3        prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

3.1.4        prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the

 

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Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

3.1.5        cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6        provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.7        advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8        at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;

 

3.1.9        notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

 

3.1.10    permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

3.1.11    obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

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3.1.12    on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.13    in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

 

3.1.14    make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

3.1.15    if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.16    otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration, including, without limitation, making available senior executives of the Company to participate in any due diligence sessions that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering.

 

3.2           Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

3.3           Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

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3.4              Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.

 

3.5              Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

4.1           Indemnification.

 

4.1.1        The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished

 

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in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

4.1.2        In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

4.1.3        Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

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4.1.4        The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

4.1.5        If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

ARTICLE V 

 

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS

 

5.1          Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time on or after the date that the Company consummates an initial Business Combination and for so long as the Sponsor holds any Registrable Securities:

 

5.2.1        The Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate up to three individuals to be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, for election to the Board (including any successor, each, a “Nominee”) by giving written notice to the Company on or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Board or the Nominating Committee of the Board, as applicable, for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of stockholders provided to the Sponsor.

 

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5.2.2        The Company will, as promptly as practicable, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions (including, without limitation, calling special meetings of the Board and the stockholders and recommending, supporting and soliciting proxies) so that there are three Sponsor Directors serving on the Board at all times.

 

5.2.3        The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, use its best efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that: (i) each Nominee is included in the Board’s slate of nominees to the stockholders of the Company for each election of Directors; and (ii) each Nominee is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board.

 

5.2.4        If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal of a Sponsor Director or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor, and the Company will, as promptly as practicable following such designation, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, within its control such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee.

 

5.2.5        If a Nominee is not elected because of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate promptly another Nominee and the Company will take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation or the size of the Board shall be increased by one and such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee as promptly as practicable following such designation.

 

5.2.6        As promptly as reasonably practicable following the request of any Sponsor Director, the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with such Sponsor Director, in the form entered into with the other members of the Board. The Company shall pay the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Sponsor Director in connection with his or her services provided to or on behalf of the Company, including attending meetings or events attended explicitly on behalf of the Company at the Company’s request.

 

5.2.7        The Company shall (i) purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary and (ii) for so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a Director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Sponsor Director; provided that upon removal or resignation of such Sponsor Director for any reason, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not less than six years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.

 

5.2.8        For so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a Director of the Company, the Company shall not amend, alter or repeal any right to indemnification or exculpation covering or benefiting any Director nominated pursuant to this Agreement as and to

 

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the extent consistent with applicable law, whether such right is contained in the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, each as amended, or another document (except to the extent such amendment or alteration permits the Company to provide broader indemnification or exculpation rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto).

 

5.2.9        Each Nominee may, but does not need to qualify as “independent” pursuant to listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market (or such other national securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are then listed).

 

5.2.10    Any Nominee will be subject to the Company’s customary due diligence process, including its review of a completed questionnaire and a background check. Based on the foregoing, the Company may object to any Nominee; provided (a) it does so in good faith, and (b) such objection is based upon any of the following: (i) such Nominee was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), (ii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such proposed director from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (A) engaging in any type of business practice, or (B) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws, (iii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in clause (ii)(B), or to be associated with persons engaged in such activity, (iv) such Nominee was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or (v) such proposed director was the subject of, or a party to any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to a violation of any federal or state securities laws or regulations. In the event the Board reasonably finds the Nominee to be unsuitable based upon one or more of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) and reasonably objects to the identified director, Sponsor shall be entitled to propose a different nominee to the Board within thirty (30) calendar days of the Company’s notice to Sponsor of its objection to the Nominee and such replacement Nominee shall be subject to the review process outlined above.

 

5.2.11    The Company shall take all necessary action to cause a Nominee chosen by the Sponsor, at the request of such Nominee to be elected to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each material operating subsidiary of the Company. The Nominee, as applicable, shall have the right to attend (in person or remotely) any meetings of the board of directors (or similar governing body or committee thereof) of each subsidiary of the Company.

 

 

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ARTICLE VI 

 

STOCKHOLDER exculpation and indemnification

 

6.1           Indemnification; Exculpation.

 

6.1.1        The Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold the Sponsor and each of its respective direct and indirect partners, equityholders, members, managers, affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, fiduciaries, managers, controlling Persons, employees, representatives and agents and each of the partners, equityholders, members, affiliates, directors, officers, fiduciaries, managers, controlling Persons, employees and agents of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Sponsor Indemnitees”) free and harmless from and against any and all Actions, liabilities, losses, damages and costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Sponsor Indemnitees or any of them (collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), arising out of any Action arising directly or indirectly out of, or in any way relating to, a Business Combination and any agreements, transactions or filings related thereto (other than any Indemnified Liabilities (x) to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are directly caused by the breach by such Sponsor Indemnitee of any fiduciary or other duty or obligation of such Sponsor Indemnitee to its direct or indirect equityholders, creditors or affiliates, or (y) to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are directly caused by such Person’s willful misconduct); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be unavailable or unenforceable for any reason, the Company (including any parent or other successor to the Company) will make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities that is payable pursuant to this Section 6.1.1 to the extent permissible under applicable Law. For the purposes of this Section 6.1, none of the circumstances described in the limitations contained in the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence shall be deemed to apply absent a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to such effect, in which case to the extent any such limitation is so determined to apply to any Sponsor Indemnitee as to any previously advanced indemnity payments made by the Company, then such payments shall be promptly repaid by such Sponsor Indemnitee to the Company. The rights of any Sponsor Indemnitee to indemnification hereunder will be in addition to any other rights any such Person may have under any other agreement or instrument to which such Sponsor Indemnitee is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or under Law or under the Governing Documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Each party hereto agrees that each of the Sponsor Indemnitees shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 6.1, entitled to enforce this Section 6.1 as though each such Sponsor Indemnitee was a party to this Agreement.

 

6.1.2        The Company will reimburse any Sponsor Indemnitee for all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and any other litigation-related expenses) as they are incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing, defending or assisting in the defense of any Action for which the Sponsor Indemnitee would be entitled to indemnification under the terms of this Article VI, or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Sponsor Indemnitee is a party thereto. The Company, in the defense of any Action for which a Sponsor Indemnitee would be entitled to indemnification under the terms of this Article VI, may, without the consent of such Sponsor Indemnitee, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement if and only if it (i)

 

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includes as a term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff therein to such Sponsor Indemnitee of an unconditional release from all liability with respect to such Action, (ii) does not impose any limitations (equitable or otherwise) on such Sponsor Indemnitee, and (iii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such Sponsor Indemnitee, and provided that the only penalty imposed in connection with such settlement is a monetary payment that will be paid in full by the Company.

 

6.1.3        The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to any Sponsor Indemnitee in respect of Indemnified Liabilities in connection with any Jointly Indemnifiable Claims (as defined below), pursuant to and in accordance with (as applicable) the terms of (i) the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Laws of any applicable jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and the Company’s Governing Documents, each as amended, (ii) any director indemnification agreement and (iii) this Agreement, any other agreement between the Company and such Sponsor Indemnitee (or its affiliates) pursuant to which such Sponsor Indemnitee is indemnified, ((i) through (iii) collectively, the “Indemnification Sources”), irrespective of any right of recovery such Sponsor Indemnitee (or its affiliates) may have from any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Company or the insurer under and pursuant to any insurance policy of the Company) from whom such Sponsor Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may also have an indemnification obligation (collectively, the “Indemnitee-Related Entities”). Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the Indemnitee-Related Entities and no right of advancement or recovery any Sponsor Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of such Sponsor Indemnitee or the obligations of the Company under the Indemnification Sources. In the event that any of the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall make any payment to any Sponsor Indemnitee in respect of indemnification with respect to any Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, (x) the Company shall reimburse the Indemnitee-Related Entity making such payment to the extent of such payment promptly upon written demand from such Indemnitee-Related Entity, (y) to the extent not previously and fully reimbursed by the Company pursuant to clause (x), the Indemnitee-Related Entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of the outstanding balance of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Sponsor Indemnitee against the Company, and (z) such Sponsor Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Indemnitee-Related Entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each party hereto agrees that each of the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 6.1, entitled to enforce this Section 6.1.4 as though each such Indemnitee-Related Entity were a party to this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 6.1.4, the term “Jointly Indemnifiable Claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any Indemnified Liabilities for which any Sponsor Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification from both (1) the Company pursuant to the Indemnification Sources, on the one hand, and (2) any Indemnitee-Related Entity pursuant to any other agreement between any Indemnitee-Related Entity and such Sponsor Indemnitee (or its affiliates) pursuant to which such Sponsor Indemnitee is indemnified, the Laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of any Indemnitee-Related Entity and/or the Governing Documents of any Indemnitee-Related Entity, on the other hand.

 

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6.1.4        In no event shall any Sponsor Indemnitee be liable to the Company for any act, alleged act, omission or alleged omission that does not constitute willful misconduct or fraud of such Sponsor Indemnitee as determined by a final, nonappealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

6.1.5        The rights of any Sponsor Indemnitee to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.1 will be in addition to any other rights any such Person may have under any other section of this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which such Sponsor Indemnitee is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or under Law or under the Governing Documents of the Company.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1            Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94111, Attn: Scott W. Wagner, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or facsimile number as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 7.1.

 

7.2           Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

7.2.1        This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

7.2.2        A Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to a Permitted Transferee who agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement.

 

7.2.3        This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

7.2.4        This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 7.2 hereof.

 

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7.2.5        No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 7.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 7.2 shall be null and void.

 

7.3              Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

7.4              Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

7.5              Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

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7.6              Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

7.7              Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the date as of which (A) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities sold or the manner of sale. The provisions of Section 3.5, Article IV and Article VI shall survive any termination.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

  

  COMPANY:
     
  Bilander Acquisition Corp.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
     
  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
  Name: Scott W. Wagner
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer
     
     
  HOLDERS:
     
  Bilander Holdings, LLC
     
     
  By: /s/ James H. Greene, Jr.
  Name: James H. Greene, Jr.
  Title: Authorized Signatory
     
     
  By: /s/ James H. Greene, Jr.
  Name: James H. Greene, Jr.
     
     
  By: /s/ Brandon Van Buren
  Name: Brandon Van Buren
     
     
  By: /s/ Darren Thompson
  Name: Darren Thompson
     
     
  By: /s/ Alexi A. Wellman
  Name: Alexi A. Wellman
     
     
  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
  Name: Scott W. Wagner
     
     
  By: /s/ Lee Kirkpatrick
  Name: Lee Kirkpatrick
     

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  By: /s/ William J. Janetschek
  Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

PRIVATE PLACEMENT

 

WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of July 15, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between Bilander Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Bilander Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (a “Share”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable for one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share, as set forth in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 related to the Public Offering (the “Registration Statement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser now wishes to purchase an aggregate of 3,500,000 warrants (or 3,800,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Warrants”), each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending to be bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1.              Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Warrants.

 

A.           Authorization of the Warrants. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Warrants to the Purchaser.

 

B.            Purchase and Sale of the Warrants.

 

(i)            As payment in full for the 3,500,000 Warrants being purchased under this Agreement, the Purchaser shall pay $1.50 per Warrant for an aggregate amount of $5,250,000 (the “Purchase Price”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions, at least one (1) business day prior to the closing of the Public Offering, or on such other date as the Company and the Purchaser may agree.

 

(ii)           In the event that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, the Purchaser shall purchase up to an additional 300,000 Warrants (the “Additional Warrants”), in the same proportion as the amount of the over-allotment option that is exercised, and simultaneously with such purchase of Additional Warrants, as payment in full for the Additional Warrants being purchased hereunder, and at least one (1) business day prior to the closing of all or any portion of the over-allotment option, or on such other date as the Company and the Purchaser may agree, the Purchaser shall pay $1.50 per Additional Warrant, up to an aggregate amount of $450,000, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions.

 

(iii)          The closing of the purchase and sale of the Warrants shall take place simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering (the “Initial Closing Date”). The closing of the purchase and sale of the Additional Warrants, if applicable, shall take place simultaneously with the closing of all or any portion of the over-allotment option (such closing date, together with the Initial Closing Date, the “Closing Dates” and each, a “Closing Date”). The closing of the purchase and sale of each of the Warrants and the Additional Warrants shall take place at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, or such other place as may be agreed upon by the parties hereto.

 

C.            Terms of the Warrants.

 

1 

 

(i)            The Warrants shall have their terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering (a “Warrant Agreement”).

 

(ii)            At or prior to the time of the Initial Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Warrants and the Shares underlying the Warrants.

 

Section 2.              Representations and Warranties of the Company. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Dates) that:

 

A.            Organization and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B.            Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i)            The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company as of the Closing Dates. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of the Closing Dates.

 

(ii)            The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Warrants, the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Warrants and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of the Closing Dates (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

 

C.            Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.

 

D.            Governmental Consents. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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E.            Regulation D Qualification. Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its affiliates, officers, directors or beneficial stockholders of 20% or more of its outstanding securities, has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

Section 3.             Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Dates) that:

 

A.            Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

B.            Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i)            This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii)           The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of the Closing Dates conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.

 

C.            Investment Representations.

 

(i)            The Purchaser is acquiring the Warrants and, upon exercise of the Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.

 

(ii)           The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Purchaser has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

(iii)          The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.

 

(iv)          The Purchaser did not enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(v)            The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.

 

(vi)           The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of

 

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the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

(vii)          The Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

 

(viii)        The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Securities.

 

Section 4.             Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Dates, of each of the following conditions:

 

A.           Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Dates as though then made.

 

B.            Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing Dates.

 

C.            No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D.            Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

Section 5.               Conditions of the Company’s Obligations. The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Dates, of each of the following conditions:

 

A.            Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Dates as though then made.

 

B.            Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before the Closing Dates.

 

C.            No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

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D.            Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement.

 

Section 6.              Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after July 31, 2021 upon the election by either the Company or a Purchaser entitled to purchase a majority of the Warrants upon written notice to the other parties if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.

 

Section 7.              Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Dates.

 

Section 8.              Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.

 

Section 9.              Miscellaneous.

 

A.            Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof.

 

B.            Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

C.            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed (including via e-signature) simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

D.            Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

E.            Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of New York applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such state, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal court sitting in the Southern District of New York or any state court located in New York County, State of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. To the fullest extent they may effectively do so under applicable law, the parties hereto irrevocably waive and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that they are not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

F.            Amendments. This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  BILANDER ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Scott W. Wagner
    Name: Scott W. Wagner
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  BILANDER HOLDINGS, LLC
     
  By: /s/ James H. Greene, Jr.
    Name: James H. Greene, Jr.
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement]

 

Exhibit 99.1

  

Bilander Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $150,000,000 Initial Public Offering

 

SAN FRANCISCO July 15, 2021 -- Bilander Acquisition Corp. (the “Company” or “Bilander”), a newly organized blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses and sponsored by an affiliate of True Wind Capital (“True Wind”), today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 15,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trade under the ticker symbol “TWCBU” beginning Friday, July 16, 2021. The initial public offering is expected to close on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “TWCB” and “TWCBW,” respectively.

 

In connection with the initial public offering, the Company has entered into forward purchase agreements with certain institutional accredited investors that will provide for the aggregate purchase of at least $50,000,000 of additional Class A common stock at $10.00 per share. Any such purchases will take place in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial business combination.

 

Bilander is led by Scott W. Wagner, Head of Strategic Capital for True Wind, who is responsible for leading True Wind’s SPAC franchise and overseeing its operations, and James H. Greene, Jr., a founding partner of True Wind, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, respectively.

 

Mr. Wagner brings nearly 30 years of deep operating experience within the software, internet, consumer media, and data and analytics sectors.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Evercore Group L.L.C. are acting as book-running managers. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,250,000 additional units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

The initial public offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, telephone: +1 (866) 718-1649 or email: prospectus@morganstanley.com, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attn: Prospectus Department, 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, telephone: 800-503-4611 or email: prospectus.cpdg@db.com, Evercore Group L.L.C., Attn: Equity Capital Markets, 55 East 52nd Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10055, telephone: (888) 474-0200 or email: ecm.prospectus@evercore.com.

 

A registration statement relating to the securities sold in the initial public offering has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Thursday, July 15, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The securities to be sold in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of such Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

 

 

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds thereof. No assurance can be given that the funding of the forward purchase agreements will occur or that the net proceeds of the offering or forward purchase agreements will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company’s offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

 

About the Company

 

The Company is a newly organized blank check company sponsored by True Wind, a San Francisco-based, technology-focused private equity firm managing approximately $1.4 billion. Mr. Greene is a founding partner of True Wind.

 

Contacts:

 

Jonathan Gasthalter/Nathaniel Garnick

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257-4170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp. Completes $150,000,000 Initial Public Offering

 

SAN FRANCISCO – July 20, 2021 Bilander Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: TWCBU) (the “Company” or “Bilander”), a newly organized blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses and sponsored by an affiliate of True Wind Capital (“True Wind”), today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 15,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, resulting in gross proceeds of $150,000,000.

 

The Company’s units began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “TWCBU” on July 16, 2021. Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “TWCB” and “TWCBW,” respectively.

 

In connection with the initial public offering, the Company has entered into forward purchase agreements with certain institutional accredited investors that will provide for the aggregate purchase of at least $50,000,000 of additional Class A common stock at $10.00 per share. Any such purchases will take place in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial business combination.

 

Bilander has a differentiated “promote” structure relative to other blank check companies that enhances the alignment of the interests between the Company’s management team, sponsor, and public shareholders. Specifically, the Company’s Class B common stock acquired by the sponsor (the “founder shares”) will automatically convert into the Company’s Class A common stock only after the Company completes its initial business combination and when certain triggering events occur, based on the Company’s Class A common stock trading at or above $12.00, $15.00, and $18.00 per share. Additionally, 100% of the founder shares are subject to lock up restrictions; provided, however, after one year following the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, the transfer restrictions shall not apply to any Class A common stock issued upon conversion of the founder shares.

 

Bilander is led by Scott W. Wagner, Head of Strategic Capital for True Wind, who is responsible for leading True Wind’s SPAC franchise and overseeing its operations, and James H. Greene, Jr., a founding partner of True Wind, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, respectively. Mr. Wagner brings nearly 30 years of deep operating experience within the software, internet, consumer media, and data and analytics sectors.

 

True Wind’s prior SPACs include Nebula Caravel Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: NEBC) and TWC Tech Holdings II (NASDAQ: TWCT), which have both announced proposed initial business combinations with A Place for Rover, Inc. and Cellebrite DI Ltd., respectively. True Wind’s first SPAC, Nebula Acquisition Corp., successfully completed its initial business combination with Open Lending, LLC (NASDAQ: LPRO) in June 2020.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Evercore Group L.L.C. acted as book-running managers. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,250,000 additional units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

The initial public offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, telephone: +1 (866) 718-1649 or email: prospectus@morganstanley.com, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attn: Prospectus Department, 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, telephone: 800-503-4611 or email: prospectus.cpdg@db.com, Evercore Group L.L.C., Attn: Equity Capital Markets, 55 East 52nd Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10055, telephone: (888) 474-0200 or email: ecm.prospectus@evercore.com.

 

 

 

A registration statement relating to the securities sold in the initial public offering has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 15, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The securities to be sold in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of such Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds thereof. No assurance can be given that the funding of the forward purchase agreements will occur or that the net proceeds of the offering or forward purchase agreements will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus for the Company’s offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

 

About the Bilander Acquisition Corp.

 

Bilander Acquisition Corp. is a newly organized blank check company sponsored by True Wind, a San Francisco-based, technology-focused private equity firm managing approximately $1.4 billion. Bilander is led by Scott W. Wagner, Head of Strategic Capital for True Wind, who is responsible for leading True Wind’s SPAC franchise and overseeing its operations, and James H. Greene, Jr., a founding partner of True Wind, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, respectively. Mr. Wagner brings nearly 30 years of deep operating experience within the software, internet, consumer media, and data and analytics sectors.

 

Contacts:

 

Jonathan Gasthalter/Nathaniel Garnick

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257-4170