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As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2018.

Registration No. 333-             


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  6770
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  82-4151153
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)



1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(646) 475-8506

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Stephen Girsky
President and Chief Executive Officer
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
1354 Flagler Drive
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(646) 475-8506

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service



Copies to:

Alan I. Annex, Esq.
Donn Beloff, Esq.
Jason T. Simon, Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
MetLife Building
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166
United States
(212)801-9323
(212)801-6400—Facsimile

 

Gregg A. Noel, Esq.
Michael J. Zeidel, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
525 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 470-4500
(650) 470-4570—Facsimile



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

             If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.     o

             If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

             If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

             If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

             Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  ý
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company  o

Emerging growth company  ý

             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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of each Class of Security
being registered

  Amount being
Registered

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Security(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

 

Units, each consisting of one share of common stock, $0.0001 par value, and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant(2)

  23,000,000 Units   $10.00   $230,000,000   $28,635
 

Shares of common stock included as part of the units(3)

  23,000,000 Shares       —(4)
 

Redeemable warrants included as part of the units(3)

  17,250,000 Warrants       —(4)
 

Total

          $230,000,000   $28,635

 

(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)
Includes 3,000,000 units, consisting of 3,000,000 shares of common stock and 2,250,000 warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,250,000 shares of common stock included in such units, which may be issued on exercise of a 45-day option granted to the Underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(4)
Pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act, no additional fee.

              The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   Subject to Completion, Dated April     , 2018

$200,000,000

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

20,000,000 Units

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is a blank check company newly formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our "initial business combination." We have not identified any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive business discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although we intend to focus on businesses in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries.

This is an initial public offering of our securities. We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 each. Each unit consists of one share of our common stock and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described herein. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares for cash, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as described herein.

Our sponsor, VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, Cowen Investments LLC, an affiliate of one of the underwriters of this offering, and certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (the "BlackRock Funds") have committed to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 units (or 660,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. We refer to our sponsor and Cowen Investments LLC collectively as our "founders" throughout this prospectus, and we refer to the BlackRock Funds collectively as our "anchor investor" throughout this prospectus. Our founders, independent directors and anchor investor currently own an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of our common stock (up to 750,000 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised). Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase an aggregate of $25 million of public units in this offering. For a discussion of certain additional arrangements with our anchor investor, please see " Summary—The Offering—Contingent Forward Purchase Agreement and Expression of Interest" beginning on page 12.

A fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, which we refer to as our "forward purchase investor," has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described herein. The forward purchase investor is a member of our sponsor and will fund a portion of our sponsor's purchase of private placement units. For a discussion of certain additional arrangements with our forward purchase investor, please see " Summary—The Offering—Contingent Forward Purchase Agreement and Expression of Interest " beginning on page 12. The forward purchase investor is an institutional entity unaffiliated with our management team.

Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

There is presently no public market for our units, common stock or warrants. We intend to apply to list our units on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol "VTIQU" on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. The shares of common stock and the warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52 nd  day following the date of this prospectus, unless the representative of the underwriters determines that an earlier date is acceptable, and subject to certain conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that our common stock and warrants will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQ" and "VTIQW" respectively.

We are an "emerging growth company" as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and will therefore be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 32 for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


 
  Price to
Public
  Underwriting
Discount(1)
  Proceeds,
Before
Expenses, to us
 

Per Unit

  $ 10.00   $ 0.20   $ 9.80  

Total

  $ 200,000,000   $ 4,000,000   $ 196,000,000  

(1)
The underwriters will receive compensation in addition to the underwriting discount. See " Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest). "

Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement units described in this prospectus, $200,000,000, or $230,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.

The underwriters are offering the public units on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the public units to purchasers on or about                                        , 2018.


Joint Book-Running Managers

Cowen

 

Chardan



   

                           , 2018


TABLE OF CONTENTS

        

 
  Page

Summary

  1

Summary Financial Data

  31

Risk Factors

  32

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

  64

Use of Proceeds

  65

Dividend Policy

  69

Dilution

  70

Capitalization

  72

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  73

Proposed Business

  80

Management

  103

Principal Stockholders

  113

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

  118

Description of Securities

  122

Securities Eligible For Future Sale

  133

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

  135

Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)

  144

Legal Matters

  151

Experts

  151

Where You Can Find Additional Information

  151

Index to Financial Statements

  F-1


TRADEMARKS

        This prospectus contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies' trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.


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SUMMARY

         This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under "Risk Factors" and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus before investing. Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to:

    §
    "we," "us" or "our company" are to VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.;
    §
    "sponsor" are to VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a company affiliated with our executive officers and certain of our directors;
    §
    "founders" are to our sponsor and Cowen Investments LLC, or Cowen Investments, together;
    §
    ``forward purchase investor" are to a fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, which is a member of our sponsor and will fund a portion of our sponsor's purchase of private placement units, and has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described herein;
    §
    "anchor investor" are to certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. who have also expressed to us an interest to purchase an aggregate of $25 million of public units in this offering as described herein, collectively;
    §
    "public units" are to the units sold in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
    §
    "public shares" are to shares of our common stock sold as part of the public units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
    §
    "public warrants" are to our redeemable warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
    §
    "founder shares" are to shares of our common stock initially purchased by our founders in a private placement prior to this offering;
    §
    "private units" are to the units sold to our founders and anchor investor in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering;
    §
    "private shares" are to the shares of our common stock sold as part of the private units;
    §
    "private warrants" are to the redeemable warrants sold as part of the private units;
    §
    "public stockholders" are to the holders of our public shares, including our sponsor, officers, directors and director nominees to the extent they purchase public shares, provided that their status as "public stockholders" shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
    §
    "contingent forward purchase agreement" are to the agreement providing for the sale of an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, or such lesser number (if any) as we may specify, at a price of $10.00 per share, to our forward purchase investor in a private placement to occur concurrently with the closing of our initial business combination;
    §
    "forward purchase shares" are to the shares of our common stock sold pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement;
    §
    "forward purchase warrants" are to our redeemable warrants to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, sold pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement;
    §
    "forward purchase securities" are to the forward purchase shares and the forward purchase warrants sold pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement; and
    §
    "management" or our "management team" refer to our officers and directors.

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         Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our founders and anchor investor of an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares.

         You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.


General

        We are a Delaware corporation formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified any potential initial business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential initial business combination target.

        We will seek to capitalize on the significant experience and contacts of our management team to complete our initial business combination. Although we may pursue our initial business combination in any business, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus on opportunities to capitalize on the ability of our management team, particularly our executive officers, to identify, acquire and operate a business in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which we believe has many potential target businesses. Following our initial business combination, our objective will be to implement or support the acquired business' growth and operating strategies.

        Over the last several years, there has been an increase in private equity and venture backed capital invested in the automotive/transportation technology sector. Global venture capital funding in the transportation industry increased from less than $1 billion in 2012 to approximately $16 billion in 2016, according to a 2017 Crunchbase report. However, there have been relatively few initial public offerings of business in this industry in recent years, with only 20 initial public offerings of automotive businesses in the past five years based on a data screen obtained from Capital IQ that only considered non-over-the-counter automotive initial public offerings and spin-offs in North America with an enterprise value of greater than $50.0 million. We believe that these trends provide opportunities for us to identify private companies that would benefit from a public listing and access to the public capital markets, as well as our management team's deep experience in these industries.

        We believe that our management team is well positioned to identify attractive businesses within the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries that would benefit from access to the public markets and the skills of our management team. Our objective is to consummate our initial business combination with such a business and enhance stockholder value by helping it to identify and recruit management, identify and complete additional acquisitions, implement operational improvements, and expand its product offerings and geographic footprint. We intend to utilize our management team's experience and contacts in these industries to achieve this objective. We believe many businesses in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries could benefit from access to the public markets but have been unable to do so due to a number of factors, including the time it takes to conduct a traditional initial public offering, market volatility and pricing uncertainty. We intend to focus on evaluating more established companies with leading competitive positions, strong management teams and strong long-term potential for growth and profitability.

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         Stephen Girsky , our President and Chief Executive Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in New York. Mr. Girsky has more than 30 years of experience working with corporate board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers, dealers and national policy makers. Mr. Girsky served in a number of capacities at General Motors from November 2009 until July 2014, including Vice Chairman, having responsibility for global corporate strategy, new business development, global product planning and program management, global connected consumer/OnStar, and GM Ventures LLC, Global Research & Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mr. Girsky served as Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board from November 2011 to January 2014 and was President of GM Europe from July 2012 to March 2013. He also served on General Motors' Board of Directors following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2009 until June 2016. Mr. Girsky has also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP and a multibillion dollar investment fund, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to Centerbridge, Mr. Girsky served as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors from 2005 to 2006, and prior to that Mr. Girsky served as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team. Mr. Girsky currently serves on the Boards of Directors of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of Brookfield Business Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX BBU.UN), as well as three private companies, drive.ai, Valens Semiconductor and Millstein & Co.

         Mary Chan , our Chief Operating Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC. Ms. Chan joined General Motors in 2012 as President, Global Connected Consumer. In that role, she was responsible for building the next generation of connected vehicle product and services. Prior to General Motors, Ms. Chan worked at Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services from 2009 to 2012. At Dell, she was responsible for developing Consumer PC/Gaming products and Enterprise Mobility Application services. Prior to Dell, with over 20 years of wireless infrastructure experience she was the EVP/President Global Wireless Network Group at Alcatel-Lucent and SVP of Wireless R&D at Lucent Technologies Inc. Ms. Chan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Magna International Inc. (NYSE: MGA), Dialog Semiconductor PLC (ETR: DLG), SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) and Microelectronics Technology Inc. (TPE: 2314), as well as two private companies, WiTricity Corporation and Service King.

         Steve Shindler , our Chief Financial Officer, is a Director of NII Holdings, Inc., or NII, a provider of differentiated mobile communications services for businesses and high value consumers in Latin America. Mr. Shindler served as Chief Executive Officer of NII from 2012 until August of 2017 as well as from 2000 to 2008. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shindler successfully transformed NII from a start-up operation into a leading wireless provider with nearly 11.5 million subscribers. In recent years he has overseen a financial restructuring of the company that has included sales of its core businesses in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile. Mr. Shindler joined Nextel Communications, Inc. in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nextel, Mr. Shindler was Managing Director of Communications Finance at The Toronto Dominion Bank, one of the largest suppliers of capital to the wireless industry. Mr. Shindler is also a founding partner of RIME Communications Capital, a firm that has invested in early stage media, tech and telco companies.

        In addition to our management, the following investors have invested in our sponsor individually or through their affiliates, and we expect that they will supplement our management team's efforts, including by providing us referrals to potential target businesses and consulting with us from time to time regarding potential business combination opportunities: Daniel F. Akerson, Noriaki Hirakata,

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Stefan Jacoby, James Millstein and Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. None of these individuals are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs.

        The past performance of the members of our management team or their affiliates is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management or any of their affiliates' performance as indicative of our future performance. None of our officers or directors has had any experience with any blank check companies in the past.


Business Strategy

        Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that complements the experience of our management team and can benefit from our management team's expertise. Our selection process is expected to leverage our management team's contacts in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries globally, which we believe will provide us with access to attractive business combination opportunities in these industries. Our management team has experience:

    §
    managing and operating businesses in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries;
    §
    developing and growing companies, both organically and through acquisitions and investments;
    §
    evaluating and managing the growth of new products and technologies;
    §
    identifying, recruiting and mentoring management personnel;
    §
    sourcing, structuring, acquiring and selling businesses;
    §
    fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target management teams; and
    §
    accessing the capital markets across various business cycles.

        Following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships of our management team and their affiliates to articulate the parameters for our search for a potential target initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.


Business Combination Criteria

        Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and, in evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria or guidelines.

    §
    Focus on industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility business positioned to benefit from our management team's extensive experience and contacts in these sectors. We believe our strategy leverages our management team's distinctive background and vast network of industry leaders in the target industry.
    §
    Emphasis on companies that can benefit from a public listing and access to the public capital markets. We will primarily seek a target that we believe will benefit from being

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      publicly traded and will be able to effectively utilize the broader access to capital and the public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.

    §
    We will target businesses that are market leaders, with established technologies and attractive financial metrics and/or prospects, where we believe that our industry expertise and relationships can be used to create opportunities for value creation, whether for acquisitions, capital investments in organic growth opportunities or in generating greater operating efficiencies. While this may include business with a history of revenue growth and profitability, we may also target businesses that are underperforming that that we believe can benefit from our expertise and/or technology.
    §
    We intend to seek target businesses that have established management teams, but that we believe could benefit from the industry experience and contacts of our management.
    §
    Middle-market businesses. We believe targeting businesses in the middle market will provide the greatest number of opportunities for investment and will maximize the collective network of our management team.

        These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.


Initial Business Combination

        We will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Unlike other blank check companies which require stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related redemptions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such stockholder vote. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC's proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, if we seek stockholder approval, 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.

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        We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, 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 as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. We expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.00 per share of common stock (regardless of whether or not the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option), without taking into account any interest earned on such funds. However, we cannot assure you that we will in fact be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public stockholders.

        Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our Board of Directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our Board of Directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the Board of Directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide stockholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able independently to determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination.

        We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business

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combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.

        As more fully discussed in " Management—Conflicts of Interest ", if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Certain of our directors currently have, and any of our officers or directors may in the future have, certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations. Our executive officers and directors have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within the required time period.


Emerging Growth Company Status and Other Information

        We are an "emerging growth company," as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act"). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.

        In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.

        We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year's second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.


Corporate Information

        Our executive offices are located at 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543, and our telephone number is (646) 475-8506.

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The Offering

        In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 32 of this prospectus.

Securities offered

  20,000,000 units (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:

 

§

one share of common stock; and

 

§

three-fourths (3/4) of one warrant to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus.

Listing of our securities and proposed symbols

 

We anticipate that the units, as well as the shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units (once they begin separate trading), will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQU," "VTIQ" and "VTIQW," respectively.

Trading commencement and separation of common stock and warrants

 

Each of the units, shares of common stock and warrants may trade separately on the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus unless Cowen determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to us filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC with an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. Once our common stock and warrants commence separate trading, the holders thereof will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.

 

We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, including an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering, promptly upon the closing of this offering, which closing is anticipated to take place two business days from the date the units commence trading. If the underwriters' over-allotment option

   

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is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating if Cowen has allowed separate trading of the shares of common stock and warrants prior to the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus.

Units:

 

 

Issued and outstanding before this offering

 

0 units

Issued and outstanding after this offering

 

20,600,000 units(1)

Shares of common stock:

 

 

Issued and outstanding before this offering

 

5,750,000 shares(2)

Issued and outstanding after this offering

 

25,600,000 shares(3)

Warrants:

 

 

Outstanding before this offering

 

0 warrants

Outstanding after this offering

 

15,450,000 warrants(4)

Exercisability

 

Each whole warrant is exercisable for one share of common stock. Only whole warrants may be exercised. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units. Only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. We structured each unit to contain three-fourths of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of common stock, to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of our initial business combination as compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses.

   


(1)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and includes, accordingly, an aggregate of 600,000 private units sold concurrently with the closing of this offering.
(2)
Consists solely of founder shares, and includes 750,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by our founders and anchor investor depending on the extent to which the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised.
(3)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, and (i) includes, accordingly, an aggregate of 600,000 private shares and (ii) assumes, accordingly, that an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited.
(4)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and includes, accordingly, warrants to purchase 450,000 shares of common stock sold concurrently with the closing of this offering.

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Exercise price

 

$11.50 per whole share of common stock, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Only whole warrants may be exercised. On the exercise of any warrant, the exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.

 

We are not registering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants (the "warrant shares") at this time. However, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC and have an effective and current registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares and a current prospectus relating to such shares in effect promptly following consummation of an initial business combination. No warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares and a current prospectus relating thereto.

 

If a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares is not effective within 90 days following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may nevertheless, until such time as there is such an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain such an effective registration statement or current prospectus, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act. In this circumstance, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering warrants exercisable for the 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 such warrants and the difference between the exercise price of such warrants and the "fair market value" (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The "fair market value" means the average reported last sale price of the shares of common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Exercise period

 

The warrants will become exercisable, subject to the above limitations, on the later of:

 

§

30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and

 

§

12 months from the closing of this offering.

 

The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that the private warrants issued to Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five

   

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years after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i).

Redemption of Warrants

 

Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (excluding the private warrants as described below):

 

§

in whole and not in part;

 

§

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

 

§

upon a minimum of 30 days' prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and

 

§

if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our common stock 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 ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

We will not redeem the warrants unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so redeemed is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those warrant shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

 

If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder may exercise his, her or its warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the shares of common stock may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $11.50 exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued.

 

The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

   

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If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a "cashless basis." In making such determination, our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. In such event, the holder would pay the exercise price 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 warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so exercised, and the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the fair market value by (y) the fair market value.

 

None of the private warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our founders, the anchor investor or their permitted transferees.

Contingent Forward Purchase Agreement and Expression of Interest

 

Our forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. The forward purchase investor is an institutional entity unaffiliated with our management team.

 

Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. The forward purchase investor will have the right to be excused from its purchase obligation in connection with any specific business combination if, within five days following written notice delivered by us of our intention to enter into a specific

   

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  business combination, the forward purchase investor notifies us that it has decided not to proceed with the purchase for any reason. If the forward purchase investor exercises such right, it will forfeit all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

 

The contingent forward purchase agreement provides that the forward purchase investor is entitled to registration rights with respect to the forward purchase securities. Otherwise, the forward purchase shares and the forward purchase warrants will be treated as identical to our public shares and the public warrants following the consummation of our initial business combination.

 

Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination,

   

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depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

 

Our forward purchase investor and anchor investor will not have any rights to the funds held in the trust account beyond the rights afforded to our public stockholders, as described herein.

Securities purchased, or being purchased, by our founders and Other Insiders

 

 

Founder Shares

 

In February 2018, our founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Our sponsor and Cowen Investments purchased 4,301,000 and 1,449,000 of the founder shares, respectively. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our initial director nominees. In April 2018, our sponsor forfeited 435,606 founder shares and our anchor investor purchased 435,606 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894, or approximately $0.004 per share.

 

Up to an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares shall be subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised during this offering. If the over-allotment option is not fully exercised, our sponsor may forfeit up to 504,182 founder shares, the anchor investor may forfeit up to 56,818 founder shares and Cowen Investments may forfeit up to 189,000 founder shares. The function of the terms of forfeiture shall be to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock upon completion of this offering (excluding the private shares) and, if any, of the underwriter's over-allotment option. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effectuate a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock upon completion of this offering (excluding the private shares) and, if any, of the underwriter's over-allotment option. Prior to the investment in the Company of an aggregate of $25,000 by our founders, we had no assets, tangible or intangible.

   

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The founder shares are identical to the public shares, except that:

 

§

the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; and

 

§

our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have each entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed: (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them, insofar as such rights would enable them to receive funds from the trust account, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold, or any shares of common stock included in the private units they purchase, if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame).

 

The founder shares purchased by Cowen Investments are deemed underwriters' compensation by FINRA pursuant to Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual.

Private Units

 

Our founders and anchor investor have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. Among the private units, 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. The purchase price of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering to be held in the trust account described below. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the warrants included in the private units will expire worthless. The private units are identical to the public units, except that the underlying warrants: (1) will not

   

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be redeemable by us; (2) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, as described in this prospectus, so long as they are held by the founders, the anchor investor or any of their permitted transferees; and (3) with respect to private warrants held by Cowen Investments, will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). If the warrants included in the private units are held by holders other than the founders, the anchor investor or any of their permitted transferees, then the warrants included in the private units will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the public warrants. In the event of a liquidation prior to our initial business combination, the warrants included in the private units will expire worthless.

 

The private units purchased by Cowen Investments or its affiliates are deemed underwriters' compensation by FINRA pursuant to Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual.

Transfer restrictions applicable to founders' shares and private units

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares, private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the completion of the Company's initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under " Principal Stockholders "). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the reported last sale price of our common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then such securities will be released from these restrictions. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our founders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the "lock-up".

Voting arrangements with our founders and other insiders

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have each entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (and any of their

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permitted transferees will agree): (1) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them, insofar as such rights would enable them to receive funds from the trust account, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights; and (2) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold, or any shares of common stock included in the private units they purchase, if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame). If we submit an initial business combination to our stockholders for a vote, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed, pursuant to such letter agreement, to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of such initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares held by our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and shares of common stock included in the private units that our founders have committed to purchase (as described above), we would need 7,628,789 public shares, or approximately 38% of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited) in order to have such initial business combination approved.

Offering proceeds to be held in the trust account

 

Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. Of the $206,000,000 of gross proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private units (or, $236,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), an aggregate of $200,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit), or $230,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit) if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, will be placed in a trust account in the United States in New York, New York, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in specified U.S. government treasury bills or in specified money market funds.

   

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Except as set forth below with respect to taxes, the funds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period; or (3) our redemption of our public shares in connection with the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period. Therefore, unless and until our initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement to acquire a target business. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.

 

Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no funds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest earned to pay taxes. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $2,000,000 of interest annually (assuming an interest rate of 1.0% per year). Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:

 

§

the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $1,300,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $700,000 (excluding the underwriters' discounts and commissions) in offering expenses relating to this offering; and

 

§

any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or any of their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to loan funds or invest in us; and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.

   

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Limited payments to insiders

 

There will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our sponsor, officers, directors, director nominees or their affiliates prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private Units held in the trust account prior to the consummation of our initial business combination:

 

§

payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of a total of $10,000 per month for office space and general and administrative services;

 

§

payment to our sponsor of up to $100,000 which amount our sponsor has made available to us as a general working capital loan evidenced by a promissory note from which we may draw from time to time prior to the consummation of this offering;

 

§

reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations; and

 

§

repayment upon consummation of our initial business combination of any loans which may be made by our founders or their affiliates, or our executive officers, directors, and director nominees or their affiliates, to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. The terms of any such loans have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units.

 

These payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.

 

Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or any of their affiliates.

   

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Audit Committee

 

Prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, we will have established and will maintain an audit committee (which will be composed entirely of independent directors) to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see " Management—Committees of the Board of Directors—Audit Committee ."

Conditions to completing our initial business combination

 

There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination.

 

If our Board of Directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination transaction. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test; provided that in the event that our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.

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Permitted purchases of public shares and public warrants by our affiliates

  If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination although they are under no obligation to do so. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. Please see " Proposed Business—Permitted purchases of our securities " for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to seek to acquire securities. There is no limit on the number of shares or warrants such persons may purchase, or any restriction on the price that they may pay. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. In the event our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates determine to make any such purchases of public shares at the time of a stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, such purchases could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. If any or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We cannot currently determine whether any of our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as that would be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to the timing and size of any such purchase. Depending on the circumstances, any of our insiders may decide to make purchases of our securities pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or may determine that acting pursuant to such a plan is not required under the Exchange Act.

   

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We do not currently anticipate that purchases of our public shares or public warrants by any of our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of our founders, directors, director nominees, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will purchase shares of our common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.

Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination

 

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein; provided, that we shall not redeem public shares to the extent that the redemption would result in our failure to have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules), or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination.

 

The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.

   

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Manner of conducting redemptions

 

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (2) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

 

If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

 

§

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and

 

§

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.

 

Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.

   

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In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules), or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination.

 

If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will:

 

§

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and

 

§

file proxy materials with the SEC.

 

We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our Nasdaq listings or Exchange Act registration.

 

If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of our common stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting relating to the initial business combination. In such case, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have agreed (and any of their permitted transferees will agree) to vote their founder shares, private shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. We

   

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  expect that at the time of any stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers and any of their permitted transferees will own at least approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon. These voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules). Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we would not complete the business combination or redeem any shares of common stock, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption would be returned to the holders thereof.

Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights

 

We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in "street name," to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve our initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder's option, rather than simply voting against the initial business combination. The tender offer or

   

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  proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements.

Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination in conjunction with a stockholder vote pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning that we would not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that 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 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares of common stock with respect to an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares of common stock, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares of common stock as a means to force us or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers or any of their affiliates to purchase their shares of common stock at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder (together with its "group") holding an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder's shares of common stock were not purchased by us or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers or any of their affiliates at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our public stockholders' redemption rights as herein described, we believe we will limit the potential for a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block the completion of our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not restrict our stockholders' ability to vote all of their shares of common stock (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination.

   

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Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our charter documents

 

Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter documents which prohibits the amendment of certain charter provisions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that amendments to any of its provisions relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our common stock. If any such amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation are approved by the requisite stockholder vote, we may amend the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by the holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock, subject to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, or applicable stock exchange rules.

 

After the completion of this offering, and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may not issue any additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account or vote as a class with our public shares on an initial business combination, on any pre-business combination activity or on any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors, and director nominees, who will beneficially own approximately 20% of our shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase public units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose; provided, that , each of them has agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on

   

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  deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC's "penny stock" rules).

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private shares and any public shares held by them in connection with any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination

 

On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us. We will use these funds to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under " Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination ," to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.

Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination

 

We will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on

   

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  deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.

 

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our founders, executive officers, directors, or director nominees acquire public shares after this offering they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time frame.

Indemnity

 

Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us, if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently

   

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  verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor's only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations, and we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. We believe the likelihood of our sponsor having to indemnify the trust account is limited because we will endeavor to have all vendors and prospective target businesses as well as other entities execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account.

Conflicts of interest

 

Cowen Investments, which beneficially owns more than 10% of our outstanding common stock prior to the consummation of this offering, is an affiliate of Cowen and Company, LLC, an underwriter in this offering. As a result, Cowen and Company, LLC is deemed to have a "conflict of interest" within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("Rule 5121").

 

Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. Rule 5121 requires that a "qualified independent underwriter," as defined in Rule 5121, participate in the preparation of the registration statement and prospectus and exercise the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto.                  has agreed to act as a "qualified independent underwriter" for this offering. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will not receive any additional compensation for acting as a qualified independent underwriter. We have agreed to indemnify Chardan Capital Markets, LLC against certain liabilities incurred in connection with acting as a "qualified independent underwriter," including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, no underwriter with a conflict of interest will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder.


Risks

        We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account the special risks we face as a blank check company, as well as the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act, and, therefore, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see " Proposed Business—Comparison to offerings of blank check companies subject to Rule 419 ." You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 32 of this prospectus.

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

        The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.

 
  March 31, 2018    
 
  Actual   As
Adjusted
   

Balance Sheet Data:

               

Working capital (deficit)

  $ (154,462 ) $ 201,324,538 (1)  

Total assets

  $ 204,000   $ 201,324,538 (2)  

Total liabilities

  $ 179,462   $    

Value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash

  $   $ 196,324,530 (3)  

Stockholders' equity

  $ 24,538   $ 5,000,008    

(1)
The "as adjusted" calculation includes the $200,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, plus the $1,300,000 held outside the trust account, plus $24,538 of actual stockholders' equity at March 31, 2018.
(2)
The "as adjusted" calculation includes the $200,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, plus the $1,300,000 held outside the trust account, plus $24,538 of actual stockholders' equity at March 31, 2018.
(3)
The "as adjusted" value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash is derived by taking 19,632,453 shares which may be redeemed, representing the maximum number of shares that may be redeemed while maintaining at least $5,000,001 in net tangible assets after the offering, multiplied by a redemption price of $10.00.

        The "as adjusted" information gives effect to the sale of the public units and the private units, including the application of the related gross proceeds and the payment of the estimated remaining costs from such sale and the repayment of the accrued and other liabilities required to be repaid such that we have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets upon consummation of this offering and upon consummation of our initial business combination.

        The "as adjusted" total assets amount includes the $200,000,000 held in the trust account (or $230,000,000 million if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) for the benefit of our public stockholders, which amount will be available to us only upon the completion of our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.

        We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination (if a vote is required or being obtained).

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RISK FACTORS

         An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

We are a blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.

        We are a blank check company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning our initial business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.

Our independent registered public accounting firm's report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a "going concern."

        As of March 31, 2018, we had $25,000 in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital deficiency of $154,462. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management's plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ." Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our inability to continue as a going concern.

Past performance by our management team may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in our company.

        Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team and their affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team's or their affiliates' performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in the company or the returns the company will, or is likely to, generate going forward. None of our officers or directors has had experience with any blank check companies in the past.

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The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us for taxes) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete such a business combination with.

        Pursuant to the Nasdaq listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete an initial business combination with. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.

Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.

        We may not hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange rules or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting, but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock do not approve of the business combination we consummate. Please see " Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination Stockholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination " for additional information. Our founders control a substantial interest in us and thus may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our founders, executive officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.

        Unlike many other blank check companies in which the founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees agree to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by the public stockholders in connection with an initial business combination, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote any common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares held by our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and shares of common stock included in the private units that our founders have committed to purchase, we would need 7,628,789, or approximately 38%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this

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offering to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised and 750,000 founder shares are forfeited) in order to have such initial business combination approved. We expect that our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and their permitted transferees will own at least approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock at the time of any such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if such persons agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.

Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.

        At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of one or more target businesses. Because our Board of Directors may consummate our initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination. Accordingly, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.

The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into our initial business combination with a target.

        We may enter into a transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we may not be able to meet such closing condition, and as a result, would not be able to proceed with such business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require us to provide all of our public stockholders with an opportunity to redeem all of their shares in connection with the consummation of any initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination, or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets would be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into our initial business combination transaction with us.

The forward purchase investor has the ability to excuse itself from its obligation to purchase forward purchase shares for any reason.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, the forward purchase investor may purchase up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus a number of forward purchase warrants equaling three-fourths of the number of forward purchase shares acquired, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. Pursuant to such agreement, if, upon notification of our intention to enter into an initial business combination, the forward purchase investor decides not to purchase such forward

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purchase securities for any reason, it will be excused from its obligation to purchase such forward purchase shares. This excusal right could give the forward purchase investor significant influence over our decision of whether or not to proceed with an initial business combination with a particular target business. We may not be able to obtain any or enough additional funds to account for such shortfall, which may impact our ability to consummate an initial business combination. Any such shortfall would also reduce the amount of funds that we have available for working capital of the post-business combination company.

In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management may rely on the availability of all of the funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination.

        We have entered into the contingent forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchase investor may purchase an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. These forward purchase shares and forward purchase warrants would be purchased in a private placement to close simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. The contingent forward purchase agreement allows the forward purchase investor to be excused from its purchase obligation in connection with a specific business combination if, within five days following written notice delivered by us of our intention to enter into such business combination, the forward purchase investor notifies us that it has decided not to proceed with the purchase for any reason. The funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination. However, if the sale of the forward purchase securities does not close by reason of the failure by the forward purchase investor to fund the purchase price for the forward purchase securities, for example, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination. In the event of any failure to fund by the forward purchase investor, we may not be able to obtain additional funds to account for such shortfall on terms favorable to us or at all. Any such shortfall would also reduce the amount of funds that we have available for working capital of the post-business combination company. While the forward purchase investor has represented to us that it has sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations under the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have not obligated the forward purchase investor to reserve funds for such obligations.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to consummate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.

        In connection with the successful consummation of our initial business combination, we may redeem up to that number of shares of common stock that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination. If our initial business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, the redemption threshold may be further limited. Alternatively, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination in case a larger percentage of stockholders exercise their redemption rights than we expect. If the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to the target or its stockholders to make up for the failure to satisfy a minimum cash requirement. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher

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than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.

The requirement that we maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash could increase the probability that our business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.

        If, pursuant to the terms of our proposed business combination, we are required to maintain a minimum net worth or retain a certain amount of cash in trust in order to consummate the business combination and regardless of whether we proceed with redemptions under the tender or proxy rules, the probability that our business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in our trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.

The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.

        Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning our initial business combination will be aware that we must consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. Consequently, such target businesses may obtain leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.

We may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, have agreed that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and consummate our initial business combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein.

        If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the require time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than five business days thereafter, distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), pro rata to our public stockholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein. This redemption of public stockholders from the trust account shall be effected as

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required by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and prior to any voluntary winding up.

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares from stockholders, in which case they may influence a vote in favor of a proposed business combination that you do not support.

        If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules), our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates are permitted to purchase shares of our common stock in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such purchase would be required to include a contractual acknowledgement that the selling stockholder, although he may still be the record holder of the shares being sold, would, upon consummation of such sale, no longer be the beneficial owner of such shares and would agree not to exercise the redemption rights applicable to such shares. In the event that our founders, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates purchase shares of common stock in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, any such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares of common stock prior to the consummation of the transaction.

        The purpose of such purchases could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or (2) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of the business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the consummation of an initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

Purchases of shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions by our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may make it difficult for us to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq following the consummation of an initial business combination.

        If our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, the public "float" of our common stock and the number of beneficial holders of our securities would both be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain the listing or trading of our securities on Nasdaq following consummation of the initial business combination.

You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your securities, potentially at a loss.

        Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of a redemption to public stockholders prior to any winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation, (ii) if they redeem their shares in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate or, (iii) if they redeem their shares in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of

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this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to our pre-business combination activity and related stockholders' rights. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to the funds in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your securities, potentially at a loss.

You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.

        Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete our initial business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a "blank check" company under the United States securities laws. However, since we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we may have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, offerings subject to Rule 419 would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our consummation of an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see " Proposed Business—Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419 ."

If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), and if you or a "group" of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock.

        If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation (meaning we would not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, individually or 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 of the Exchange Act), would be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering without our prior written consent. Your inability to redeem an aggregate of more than 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering will reduce your influence over our ability to consummate our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell such excess shares in open market transactions. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, you would be required to sell your shares in open market transaction, potentially at a loss.

If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months following the closing of this offering, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.

        The funds available to us outside of the trust account, plus the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be available to us, may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months following the closing of this offering, assuming that our initial business combination is not consummated during that time. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business.

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We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a "no-shop" provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from "shopping" around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we are unable to fund such down payments or "no shop" provisions, our ability to close a contemplated transaction could be impaired. Furthermore, if we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, or we may be subject to restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our common stock, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

        Even if we conduct thorough due diligence on a target business with which we combine, this diligence may not surface all material issues that may be present with a particular target business. Factors outside of the target business and outside of our control may, at any time, arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing.

If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

        Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party's engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Our independent registered public accounting firm and the underwriters of this offering will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account.

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        Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.

        Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor's only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

Our directors may decide not to enforce indemnification obligations against our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.

        In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine on our behalf whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification

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obligations on our behalf, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.

        If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including restrictions on the nature of our investments and restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including registration as an investment company with the SEC, adoption of a specific form of corporate structure and reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.

        If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to consummate our initial business combination.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.

        We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application also may change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.

We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.

        We must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period or we may be unable to consummate a business combination due to a downturn in industry or economic conditions or due to other factors that may occur. If we have not completed our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, 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 (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

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Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will continue in existence only until 24 months from the closing of this offering. As promptly as reasonably possible following the redemptions we are required to make to our public stockholders in such event, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, we would dissolve and liquidate, subject to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of the date of distribution. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that third parties will not seek to recover from our stockholders amounts owed to them by us.

        If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a "preferential transfer" or a "fraudulent conveyance." As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public stockholders promptly after expiration of the time we have to complete an initial business combination, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

The grant of registration rights to our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

        Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into on the date of this prospectus, our founders, anchor investor, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and their respective permitted transferees, can demand that we register for resale an aggregate of 5,000,000 founder shares (or 5,750,000 founder shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and underlying securities. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the forward purchase securities and the common stock underlying the forward purchase warrants, (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter and (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earliest of (A) such date as all of the securities covered thereby have been sold or otherwise transferred and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act.

        We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash

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consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our securities that is expected when the securities owned by our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, or their respective permitted transferees, are registered for resale.

Because we are not limited to any particular business or specific geographic location or any specific target business, industry or sector with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business' operations.

        Although we intend to focus on the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, we may pursue acquisition opportunities in any geographic region and in any business industry or sector. Except for the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) and that we are not permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Because we have not yet identified or approached any specific target business with respect to our initial business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business's operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we consummate our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. An investment in our units may not ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in an acquisition target.

We may seek acquisition opportunities outside the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which may be outside of our management's areas of expertise.

        We will consider a business combination outside the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which may be outside of our management's areas of expertise, if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management's expertise, our management's expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management's expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors relevant to such acquisition. Accordingly, any stockholder who chooses to remain a stockholder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

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Although we identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.

        Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we consummate our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria or guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce our initial business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or the rules of Nasdaq, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Management's flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with our management's financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our stockholders.

        Subject to the Nasdaq listing rules requirement that our initial business combination occur with one or more target businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Investors will be relying on management's ability to identify business combinations, evaluate their merits, conduct or monitor diligence and conduct negotiations. Management's flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with management's financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our stockholders.

We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.

        To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.

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We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm, and consequently, an independent source may not confirm that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.

        Unless we consummate our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our Board of Directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Our Board of Directors will have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of the target acquisition. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.

We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination, which would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we may not issue any additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account or vote as a class with our public shares on an initial business combination. Although no such issuance will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the trust account, the issuance of additional common stock or preferred shares:

Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not consummated, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business.

        We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting, and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents, and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to consummate our initial

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business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock and could entrench management.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered Board of Directors and the ability of our Board of Directors to designate the terms of, and issue new series of, preferred stock, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities. We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware 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. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

        This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

We do not currently intend to hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after our consummation of a business combination and you will not be entitled to any of the corporate protections provided by such a meeting.

        We do not currently intend to hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate a business combination (unless required by Nasdaq), and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors, in accordance with a company's certificate of incorporation and

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bylaws, unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. If our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of a business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.

We may reincorporate in another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on stockholders.

        We may, in connection with our initial business combination, reincorporate in the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located or in another jurisdiction. The transaction may require a stockholder to recognize taxable income in the jurisdiction in which the stockholder is a tax resident or in which its members are resident if it is a tax transparent entity. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to stockholders to pay such taxes. Stockholders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after the reincorporation.

Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be largely dependent upon the efforts of our executive officers, directors and key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of our executive officers, directors, or key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our business.

        Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our executive officers and directors, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. In addition, our executive officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on us. Additionally, we do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.

        The role of such key persons in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of such persons may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, our assessment of these individuals may not prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.

Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.

        Our key personnel may be able to remain with the company after the consummation of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive

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compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination. Our key personnel may not remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.

        When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business' management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target's management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target's management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted.

The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon consummation of our initial business combination. The loss of an acquisition target's key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.

        The role of an acquisition candidate's key personnel upon the consummation of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate's management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that some members of the management team of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.

None of Cowen, any of its affiliates or our advisors has an obligation to provide us with potential investment opportunities or to devote any specified amount of time or support to our company's business.

        Although we expect to benefit from Cowen's and its affiliates' network of relationships and processes for sourcing, executing and evaluating potential acquisition targets, neither Cowen nor any of its affiliates has any legal or contractual obligation to seek on our behalf or to present to us investment opportunities that might be suitable for our business, and may allocate any such opportunities at its discretion to us or other parties. We have no investment management, advisory, consulting or other agreement in place with Cowen or any of its affiliates that obligates them to undertake efforts on our behalf or that govern the manner in which they will allocate investment opportunities. Additionally, while we anticipate that certain of the advisors listed under " Management—Other Advisors " may provide us referrals to potential target businesses, and be available from time to time to consult with us regarding potential business combination opportunities, none of these advisors are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs. Even if Cowen, one of its affiliates or one of our advisors refers an opportunity to us, no assurance can be given that such opportunity will result in an acquisition agreement or our initial business combination.

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Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.

        Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our officers and directors are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business.

        Our officers also may become aware of business opportunities, which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary duties or contractual obligations. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor or that a potential target business would not be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.

We may engage in our initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our founders, executive officers, directors or director nominees, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.

        We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, director nominees, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. Additionally, in light of the involvement of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and each of their affiliates, with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our founders, executive officers or directors, or any of their affiliates. Our directors also serve as executive officers and board members for other entities. Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to consummate our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for our initial business combination as set forth in " Proposed Business—Effecting our initial business combination—Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination " and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent account firm regarding the fairness to our stockholders from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our founders, executive officers, directors, or director nominees, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest. Our directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our stockholders, whether or not a conflict of interest may exist.

Since each of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees will lose any investment in us if our initial business combination is not consummated, and our officers and directors have significant financial interests in us, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular acquisition target is appropriate for our initial business combination.

        In February 2018, our founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Certain members of our

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management team also have a financial interest in our sponsor. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees. Additionally, 435,606 founder shares were forfeited by our sponsor and acquired by the anchor investor. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not consummate an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor and/or its designees has committed to purchase 350,000 private units (or 390,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), for an aggregate purchase price of $3,500,000 (or $3,900,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), and Cowen Investments and/or its designees has committed to purchase 200,000 private units (or 220,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 (or $2,200,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). All of the foregoing private units will also be worthless if we do not consummate our initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.

We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete our initial business combination, which may adversely affect our financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders' investment in us.

        Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete initial business combination. Furthermore, we may issue a substantial number of additional common or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan upon or after consummation of our initial business combination. We and our officers and directors have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:

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We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, and the sale of the private units, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business, which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.

        The net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units will provide us with approximately $200,000,000 (or approximately $230,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use to complete our initial business combination. Furthermore, the forward purchase investor has the ability to excuse itself from its obligation to purchase forward purchase shares for any reason under the terms of the contingent forward purchase agreement. If the forward purchase investor does not exercise such excusal right, we may have up to an additional $25,000,000 available to us for our initial business combination. However, if the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination. Please see the risk factors titled "The forward purchase investor has the ability to excuse itself from its obligation to purchase forward purchase shares for any reason," and "In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management will rely on the availability of all of the funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination," for further information on these risks.

        We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities, which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

        This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.

We may attempt to simultaneously consummate business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to consummate our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.

        If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with

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respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.

We may attempt to consummate our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

        In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information typically exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

Our management team and our stockholders may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.

        We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company's stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that we will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.

Unlike many blank check companies, we do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it easier for us to consummate our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.

        Since we have no specified percentage threshold for redemption contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our structure is different in this respect from the structure that has been used by many blank check companies. Historically, blank check companies would not be able to consummate an initial business combination if the holders of such company's public shares voted against a proposed business combination and elected to redeem more than a specified maximum percentage of the shares sold in such company's initial public offering, which percentage threshold was typically between 19.99% and 39.99%. As a result, many blank check companies were unable to complete a business combination because the amount of shares voted by their

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public stockholders electing redemption exceeded the maximum redemption threshold pursuant to which such company could proceed with its initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to consummate our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to a tender offer, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to us or our founders, executive officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates. However, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination. Furthermore, the redemption threshold may be further limited by the terms and conditions of our initial business combination. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares and the related business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares and the related business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.

Investors may view our units as less attractive than those of other blank check companies.

        Unlike other blank check companies that sell units comprised of shares and warrants each to purchase one full share in their initial public offerings, we are selling units that are each comprised of one share of common stock and three-fourths of a warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The warrants will expire and be worthless if we do not consummate an initial business combination. Furthermore, only whole warrants may be exercised. As a result, unless you acquire at least two warrants, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. Accordingly, investors in this offering will not be issued the same securities as part of their investment as they may have in other blank check company offerings, which may have the effect of limiting the potential upside value of your investment in our Company.

Holders of warrants will not participate in liquidating distributions if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.

        If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, the warrants will expire and holders will not receive any of such proceeds with respect to the warrants. In this case, holders of warrants are treated in the same manner as holders of warrants of blank check companies whose units are comprised of shares and warrants, as the warrants in those companies do not participate in liquidating distributions. Nevertheless, the foregoing may provide a financial incentive to public stockholders to vote in favor of any proposed initial business combination as each of their whole warrants would entitle the holder to purchase one share of common stock, resulting in an increase in their overall economic stake in our company. If a business combination is not approved, the warrants will expire and will be worthless.

If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, public holders will only be able to exercise such warrants on a "cashless basis" which would result in a fewer number of shares being issued to the holder had such holder exercised the warrants for cash.

        If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants at the time that holders wish to exercise such warrants, they will only be able to exercise them on a "cashless basis" provided that an exemption from registration is available. As a result, the number of warrant shares that a holder will receive upon exercise of its

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public warrants will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised its warrant for cash. Further, if an exemption from registration is not available, holders would not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and would only be able to exercise their warrants for cash if a current and effective prospectus relating to the issuance of the warrant shares is available. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the warrant shares until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. If we are unable to do so, the potential "upside" of the holder's investment in our Company may be reduced or the warrants may expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. If the issuance of the warrant shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrants shall not be entitled to exercise such warrants and such warrants may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of common stock included in the units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the private warrants may be exercisable for unregistered warrant shares for cash even if the prospectus relating to the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not current and effective.

Our management's ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer shares of common stock upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.

        If we call our public warrants for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this prospectus have been satisfied, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his, her or its warrants (including any warrants held by our founders, anchor investor or any of their permitted transferees) to do so on a "cashless basis." If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of warrant shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrants for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential "upside" of the holder's investment in our company.

We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants.

        Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement will provide that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the warrants with the consent of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into stock or cash, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant.

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Our warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.

        We will be issuing warrants to purchase 15,000,000 shares of our common stock (or up to 17,250,000 shares if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), as part of the units offered by this prospectus, and warrants to purchase 450,000 shares of our common stock (or up to 495,000 shares if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), as part of a private placement. Furthermore, pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement and subject to an excusable right, the forward purchase investor has committed to purchase up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share. In each case, the warrants are exercisable at a price of $11.50 per whole share of common stock. To the extent we issue shares of common stock to effectuate a business transaction, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of common stock upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock and reduce the value of the shares of common stock issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise their redemption rights may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.

        If our initial business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public stockholders may exercise redemption rights, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such redemption, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our initial business combination. In the event that the acquisition involves the issuance of our stock as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our stock to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.

We may be unable to consummate an initial business combination if a target business requires that we have a certain amount of cash at closing, in which case public stockholders may have to remain stockholders of our company and wait until our redemption of the public shares to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.

        A potential target may make it a closing condition to our initial business combination that we have a certain amount of cash in excess of the $5,000,001 of net tangible assets we are required to have pursuant to our organizational documents available at the time of closing. If the number of our public stockholders electing to exercise their redemption rights has the effect of reducing the amount of money available to us to consummate an initial business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public stockholders may have to remain stockholders of our company and wait the full 24 months from the closing of this offering, in order to be able to receive a portion of the trust account, or attempt to sell their shares in the open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than they would have in a liquidation of the trust account.

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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we intend to offer each public stockholder the option to vote in favor of the proposed business combination and still seek redemption of such stockholders' shares.

        In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public stockholder (but not our founders, officers or directors) the right to have his, her or its shares of common stock redeemed for cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether such stockholder votes for or against such proposed business combination. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where stockholders are offered the right to redeem their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This threshold and the ability to seek redemption while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.

We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.

        We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in "street name," to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the expiration date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or in the event we distribute proxy materials, up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder's option. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder's broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. While we have been advised that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System, this may not be the case. Under our bylaws, we are required to provide at least 10 days advance notice of any stockholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a stockholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for stockholders to deliver their shares, stockholders who wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to redeem their shares. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares, its shares may not be redeemed.

        Additionally, despite our compliance with the proxy rules or tender offer rules, as applicable, stockholders may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem their shares.

Redeeming stockholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.

        We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with any proposed business combination to comply with the delivery requirements discussed above for redemption. If such proposed business combination is not consummated, we

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will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public stockholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to redeem their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our common stock may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other stockholders that did not seek redemption may be able to sell their securities.

Because of our structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.

        We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private equity groups, venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds, operating businesses and other blank check companies competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Therefore, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking stockholder approval of our initial business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.

        Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company's pre-business combination activity, without approval by holders of a certain percentage of the company's shares. In those companies, amendment of these provisions typically requires approval by holders holding between 90% and 100% of the company's public shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that amendments to any its provisions relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholder rights, including the substance and timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete out initial business combination within the required time period, may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock. If an amendment to any such provision is approved by the requisite stockholder vote, then the corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our common stock, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. Subsequent to this offering and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that can vote as a class with our public shares on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our founders, executive officers and directors will collectively beneficially own approximately 20% of our outstanding common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering), and they may participate in any vote to amend amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust

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agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete our initial business combination with which you do not agree. In certain circumstances, our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and the warrants will expire worthless.

        Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, founder shares and forward purchase securities, including the interest earned on the proceeds held in the trust account that may be available to us for our initial business combination, will be sufficient to consummate our initial business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units and forward purchase securities, including the interest earned on the proceeds held in the trust account that may be available to us for our initial business combination, prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination, the forward purchase investor's election to be excused from its purchase obligations or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. Financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate our initial business combination, or the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular initial business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share or potentially less than $10.00 per share on our redemption, and the warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to consummate our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.

Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees will have a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a stockholder vote.

        Upon consummation of our offering, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees will own approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering). None of our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees or any of their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase public units in this offering or any public units or shares of common stock from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, our founders, executive officers, directors or any of their affiliates could determine in the future to make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions, to the extent permitted by law, in order to influence the vote or magnitude of the

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number of stockholders seeking to tender their shares to us. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination our founders, as well as all of our executive officers and directors, have agreed to vote the shares of common stock owned by them immediately before this offering, the shares of common stock underlying the private units, as well as any shares of common stock acquired in this offering or in the aftermarket in favor of such proposed business combination.

        In addition, our Board of Directors will be divided into two classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our "staggered" Board of Directors, only a portion of the Board of Directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our business combination.

Our founders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per founder share; accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our public shares.

        The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the public shares and none to the warrants included in the public units) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our founders acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon closing of this offering, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 91.6% or $9.16 per share of common stock (the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.84 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per share of common stock).

The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry.

        Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:

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        Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.

There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.

        Although we have applied to list our securities on Nasdaq, as of the date of this prospectus there is currently no market for our securities. Prospective stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Once listed on Nasdaq, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. Additionally, if our securities become delisted from Nasdaq for any reason, and are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets, an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities not listed on a national exchange, the liquidity and price of our securities may be more limited than if we were listed on Nasdaq or another national exchange. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.

Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

        We intend to apply to have our units listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our common stock and warrants listed on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet the minimum initial listing requirements set forth in the rules of Nasdaq, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum number of holders of our securities. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq's initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq's continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4 per share. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.

        If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

        The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as "covered securities." Because we expect that our units and eventually our common stock and

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warrants will be listed on Nasdaq, our units, common stock and warrants will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the state of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.

        Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to this offering, the trust agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, the letter agreements among us and our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, and the registration rights agreement among us and our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees, may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example, the underwriting agreement related to this offering contains a covenant that the target company that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the trust account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the transaction with such target business (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendment may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.

Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.

        The United States federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or International Financial Reporting Standard as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and consummate our initial business combination within our 24 month time frame.

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Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing a business combination.

        Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.

We are an "emerging growth company" and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.

        We are an "emerging growth company" within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second quarter of a fiscal year before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.

        Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the

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extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.

We may face risks related to businesses in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries.

        Business combinations with businesses in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries entail special considerations and risks. If we are successful in completing a business combination with such a target business, we may be subject to, and possibly adversely affected by, the following risks:

        Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks we will be subject to risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, which may or may not be different than those risks listed above.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Certain statements contained in this prospectus, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and any other statements of a future or forward-looking nature, constitute "forward-looking statements" for the purpose of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:

        The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Future developments affecting us may not be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading "Risk Factors". Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private units will be used as set forth in the following table.

 
  Without
Over-Allotment
Option
  Over-Allotment
Option
Exercised
 

Gross proceeds

             

Offering(1)

  $ 200,000,000   $ 230,000,000  

Private Placement

    6,000,000     6,600,000  

Total gross proceeds

    206,000,000     236,600,000  

Offering expenses (2)

             

Underwriting discount

    4,000,000     4,600,000  

Legal fees and expenses

    300,000     300,000  

Nasdaq listing fees

    75,000     75,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

    40,000     40,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

    49,000     49,000  

FINRA filing fee

    35,000     35,000  

D&O insurance

    125,000     125,000  

SEC registration fee

    28,635     28,635  

Miscellaneous expenses

    47,365     47,365  

Total offering expenses

    4,700,000     5,300,000  

Net proceeds

             

Held in the trust account(2)

    200,000,000     230,000,000  

Not held in the trust account

    1,300,000     1,300,000  

Total net proceeds

  $ 201,300,000   $ 231,300,000  

Use of net proceeds not held in the trust account (3)

             

Legal, accounting and other third party expenses attendant to the search for target businesses and to the structuring of our initial business combination

  $ 350,000     350,000  

Due diligence of target by founders, officers, directors

    350,000     350,000  

Legal and accounting fees relating to SEC reporting obligations

    150,000     150,000  

Administrative fee ($10,000 per month for 24 months)

    240,000     240,000  

Nasdaq continued listing fees

    75,000     75,000  

Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses, general corporate purposes, liquidation obligations and reserves

    135,000     135,000  

Total

  $ 1,300,000     1,300,000  

(1)
Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.
(2)
In addition, a portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the proceeds of loans from our founders of up to $200,000 as described in this prospectus. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $700,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses other than underwriting discounts.
(3)
These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth in this prospectus. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and

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    structuring a business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify an acquisition target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account.

        Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. Of the gross proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, a total of $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed in a trust account in the United States in New York, New York, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills, notes and bonds with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and which invest solely in U.S. Treasuries. Except for all interest income that may be released to us to pay taxes, none of the funds held in the trust account will be released from the trust account until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period; and (3) our redemption of our public shares in connection with the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period.

        The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using shares or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the purchase price in connection with our business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of acquired businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in consummating the initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.

        We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of our initial business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. In this event, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from members of our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or our officers and directors, but such members of our management team are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.

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        Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space and general and administrative services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.

        In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we consummate our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the offering proceeds held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. The forward purchase investor is an institutional entity unaffiliated with our management team.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from

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other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        In no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial business combination. Furthermore, the redemption threshold may be further limited by the terms and conditions of our initial business combination. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.

        A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) our consummation of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or, if our charter documents are amended to so provide, (iii) the redemption of our public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders' rights or pre-business combination activity, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.

        Our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (1) waive their redemption rights with respect to any common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights and (2) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our founders, executive officers, directors, or director nominees acquire public shares after this offering they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time frame.

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DIVIDEND POLICY

        We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our Board of Directors at such time. In addition, our Board of Directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering (assuming no purchase in this offering and not taking into account ownership of the private units). Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

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DILUTION

        The difference between the public offering price per share, assuming no value is attributed to the public warrants or the private warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with sale and exercise of warrants, including the private warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock.

        At March 31, 2018, our net tangible book value was $(154,462), or approximately $(0.03) per share. After giving effect to the sale of 20,000,000 shares of common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (assuming the over-allotment option has not been exercised), and the deduction of underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of this offering, and the sale of the private units, our pro forma net tangible book value at March 31, 2018 would have been $5,000,008, or approximately $0.84 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.87 per share to the founders and an immediate dilution of $9.16 per share, or 91.6%, to new investors not exercising their redemption rights. For purposes of presentation, our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering is $196,324,530 less than it otherwise would have been because if we effect our initial business combination, the redemption rights of the public stockholders (but not our founders) may result in the redemption of up to 19,632,453 shares sold in this offering (assuming the over-allotment option has not been exercised).

        The following table illustrates the dilution to our public stockholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the public units and the private units.

Public offering price

        $ 10.00  

Net tangible book value before this offering

  $ (0.03 )      

Net increase attributable to public stockholders and private sales

    0.87        

Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private units

          0.84  

Dilution to public stockholders

        $ 9.16  

Percentage of dilution to new investors

          91.6 %

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        The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the new investors:

 
  Shares Purchased   Total Consideration   Average
Price
per
Share
 
 
  Number   Percentage   Amount   Percentage  

Founders and Anchor Investor (with respect to founder shares)

    5,000,000 (1)   19.53 % $ 25,000     0.01 % $ 0.005  

Founders and Anchor Investor (with respect to private shares)

    600,000 (2)   2.34 %   6,000,000     2.91 % $ 10.00  

Public stockholders

    20,000,000     78.13 %   200,000,000     97.08 % $ 10.00  

Total

    25,600,000     100.0 % $ 206,025,000     100.00 %      

(1)
Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited by our founders and anchor investor as a result thereof.
(2)
Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised.

        The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:

Numerator:

       

Net tangible book value before the offering

  $ (154,462 )

Addback offering costs incurred

    179,000  

Subtotal

    24,538  

Proceeds from this offering and private placements of private units, net of expenses

    201,300,000  

Less: Shares subject to redemption to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001

    (196,324,530 )

  $ 5,000,008  

Denominator:

       

Shares of common stock outstanding prior to this offering

    5,750,000  

Less: Shares forfeited if over-allotment option is not exercised

    (750,000 )

Shares of common stock to be sold as part of the public units

    20,000,000  

Shares of common stock to be sold as part of the private units

    600,000  

Less: Shares subject to redemption to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001

    (19,632,453 )

    5,967,547  

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CAPITALIZATION

        The following table sets forth our capitalization at March 31, 2018, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units offered by this prospectus and the private units, and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:

 
  As at March 31, 2018  
 
  Actual   As Adjusted(1)  

Shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, subject to redemption(2)

        196,324,530  

Stockholders' equity:

             

Preferred shares, par value $0.0001, 1,000,000 authorized; none issued or outstanding

         

Shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 5,967,547 issued and outstanding (excluding 19,632,453 shares subject to possible redemption), as adjusted

    575     597  

Additional paid-in capital(3)

    24,425     4,999,873  

Accumulated deficit

    (462 )   (462 )

Total stockholders' equity:

    24,538     5,000,008  

Total capitalization

  $ 24,538     201,324,538  

(1)
Includes $6,000,000 we will receive from the sale of the private units. Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited.
(2)
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination. The "as adjusted" number of share of common stock, subject to redemption equals the "as adjusted" total assets of $201,324,538, less the "as adjusted" total stockholders' equity. The value of the shares of common stock that may be redeemed is equal to $10.00 per share (which is the assumed redemption price), multiplied by 19,632,453 shares of common stock, which is the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be redeemed for a $10.00 purchase price per share and still maintain at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets.
(3)
The "as adjusted" additional paid-in capital calculation is equal to the "as adjusted" total stockholders' equity of $5,000,008, minus shares of common stock (par value) of 597, minus the accumulated deficit of $(462).

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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

        We are a blank check company newly formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our "initial business combination." We have not identified any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive business discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our common equity or any preferred equity that we may create in accordance with the terms of our charter documents, debt, or a combination of cash, common or preferred equity and debt.

        The issuance of additional shares of common stock or the creation of one or more classes of preferred stock during our initial business combination:

        Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:

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        As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at March 31, 2018 we had $25,000 in cash, a working capital deficit of $154,462, and deferred offering costs of $179,000. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events

        We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Our liquidity needs have been satisfied to date through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the founder shares. We estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $700,000, and underwriting discounts and commissions of $4,000,000 (or $4,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and (2) the sale of the private units for a purchase price of $6,000,000 (or $6,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $201,300,000 (or $231,300,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), of which amount $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The remaining estimated $1,300,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $700,000 we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $700,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.

        We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us), to acquire a target business or businesses and to pay our expenses relating thereto. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of this offering, to be $200,000. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be

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used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business' operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders' fees which we had incurred prior to the completion of our initial business combination if the funds available to us outside of the trust account were insufficient to cover such expenses.

        We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, the estimated $1,300,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. We anticipate that we will incur approximately:

    §
    $350,000 of expenses for the search for target businesses and for the legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the structuring and negotiating of our initial business combination;
    §
    $350,000 of expenses for the due diligence investigation of the target by our founders, officers and directors;
    §
    $150,000 of expenses for legal and accounting fees related to SEC reporting obligations;
    §
    $240,000 of expenses (equal to $10,000 per month) for administrative fees payable to an affiliate of our sponsor;
    §
    $75,000 of Nasdaq continued listing fees; and
    §
    $135,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses, liquidation obligations and reserves.

        If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.

        As of March 31, 2018 we had $25,000 in cash and a working capital deficit of $154,462. We expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Controls and Procedures

        We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed an assessment of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial

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business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:

    §
    staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
    §
    reconciliation of accounts;
    §
    proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
    §
    evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
    §
    documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
    §
    documentation of accounting policies and procedures.

        Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively also may take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.

Related Party Transactions

        In February 2018, our founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our initial director nominees. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of this offering (excluding the private shares). Prior to the initial investment of $25,000 by our founders, the Company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private shares) upon the consummation of this offering. Up to 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture, depending on the extent to which the underwriter's over-allotment option is exercised.

        We are obligated, commencing on the date of this prospectus, to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a monthly fee of an aggregate of $10,000 for office space and general and administrative services. Additionally, we have issued two promissory notes, one to our sponsor and a second to Cowen Investments, both dated as of March 1, 2018. Each of the individual notes is in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000. The notes both contain a drawdown feature such that at any time prior to the consummation of this offering we may draw up to an aggregate of $100,000 on each of the notes for general working capital expenses. The notes are both non-interest bearing and will mature on such date as is the earlier of the date on which we close this offering and June 30, 2018.

        Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our

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audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

        We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our founders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

        Our founders and anchor investor have committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. Among the private units, 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering and the over-allotment option, as applicable. All of the proceeds we receive from the purchase of the private units will be placed in the trust account described below.

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. The forward purchase investor is an institutional entity unaffiliated with our management team.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such

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number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        Pursuant to a registration rights agreement we will enter into with each of our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. These holders, and the holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, the holders have certain "piggyback" registration rights applicable to registration statements filed after our consummation of an initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand or "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lockup restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. Please see " Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions " for additional information.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

        The amounts in the trust account, will be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results

        As of the date of this prospectus, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.

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JOBS Act

        On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an "emerging growth company" and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

        Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an "emerging growth company", we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an independent registered public accounting firm's attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,(iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor's report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements(auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO's compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an "emerging growth company," whichever is earlier.

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PROPOSED BUSINESS

General

        We are a Delaware corporation formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified any potential initial business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential initial business combination target.

        We will seek to capitalize on the significant experience and contacts of our management team to complete our initial business combination. Although we may pursue our initial business combination in any business, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus on opportunities to capitalize on the ability of our management team, particularly our executive officers, to identify, acquire and operate a business in the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which we believe has many potential target businesses. Following our initial business combination, our objective will be to implement or support the acquired business' growth and operating strategies.

        Over the last several years, there has been an increase in private equity and venture backed capital invested in the automotive/transportation technology sector. Global venture capital funding in the transportation industry increased from less than $1 billion in 2012 to approximately $16 billion in 2016, according to a 2017 Crunchbase report. However, there have been relatively few initial public offerings of business in this industry in recent years, with only 20 initial public offerings of automotive businesses in the past five years based on a data screen obtained from Capital IQ that only considered non-over-the-counter automotive initial public offerings and spin-offs in North America with an enterprise value of greater than $50.0 million. We believe that these trends provide opportunities for us to identify private businesses that would benefit from a public listing and access to the public capital markets, as well as our management team's deep experience in these industries.

        We believe that our management team is well positioned to identify attractive businesses within the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries that would benefit from access to the public markets and the skills of our management team. Our objective is to consummate our initial business combination with such a business and enhance stockholder value by helping it to identify and recruit management, identify and complete additional acquisitions, implement operational improvements, and expand its product offerings and geographic footprint. We intend to utilize our management team's experience and contacts in these industries to achieve this objective. We believe many businesses in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries could benefit from access to the public markets but have been unable to do so due to a number of factors, including the time it takes to conduct a traditional initial public offering, market volatility and pricing uncertainty. We intend to focus on evaluating more established companies with leading competitive positions, strong management teams and strong long-term potential for growth and profitability.

        Stephen Girsky, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in New York. Mr. Girsky has more than 30 years of experience working with corporate board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers, dealers and national policy makers. Mr. Girsky served in a number of capacities at General Motors from November 2009 until July 2014, including Vice Chairman, having responsibility for global corporate strategy, new business development, global product planning and program management,

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global connected consumer/OnStar, and GM Ventures LLC, Global Research & Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mr. Girsky served as Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board from November 2011 to January 2014 and was President of GM Europe from July 2012 to March 2013. He also served on General Motors' Board of Directors following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2009 until June 2016. Mr. Girsky has also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP and a multibillion dollar investment fund, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to Centerbridge, Mr. Girsky served as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors from 2005 to 2006, and prior to that Mr. Girsky served as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team. Mr. Girsky currently serves on the Boards of Directors of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of Brookfield Business Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX BBU.UN), as well as three private companies, drive.ai, Valens Semiconductor and Millstein & Co.

        Mary Chan, our Chief Operating Officer, is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC. Ms. Chan joined General Motors in 2012 as President, Global Connected Consumer. In that role, she was responsible for building the next generation of connected vehicle product and services. Prior to General Motors, Ms. Chan worked at Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services from 2009 to 2012. At Dell, she was responsible for developing Consumer PC/Gaming products and Enterprise Mobility Application services. Prior to Dell, with over 20 years of wireless infrastructure experience she was the EVP/President Global Wireless Network Group at Alcatel-Lucent and SVP of Wireless R&D at Lucent Technologies Inc. Ms. Chan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Magna International Inc. (NYSE: MGA), Dialog Semiconductor PLC (ETR: DLG), SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) and Microelectronics Technology Inc. (TPE: 2314), as well as two private companies, WiTricity Corporation and Service King.

        Steve Shindler, our Chief Financial Officer, is a Director of NII Holdings, Inc., a provider of differentiated mobile communications services for businesses and high value consumers in Latin America. Mr. Shindler served as Chief Executive Officer of NII from 2012 until August of 2017 as well as from 2000 to 2008. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shindler successfully transformed NII from a start-up operation into a leading wireless provider with nearly 11.5 million subscribers. In recent years Mr. Shindler has overseen a financial restructuring of the company that has included sales of its core businesses in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile. Mr. Shindler joined Nextel Communications, Inc. in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nextel, Mr. Shindler was Managing Director of Communications Finance at The Toronto Dominion Bank, one of the largest suppliers of capital to the wireless industry. Mr. Shindler is also a founding partner of RIME Communications Capital, a firm that has invested in early stage media, tech and telco companies.

        The past performance of the members of our management team or their affiliates is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management or any of their affiliates' performance as indicative of our future performance. None of our officers or directors has had any experience with any blank check companies in the past.

Business Strategy

        Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that complements the experience of our management team and can benefit from our management team's expertise. Our selection process is expected to leverage our management

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team's contacts in the industrial technology, automotive and smart mobility industries globally, which we believe will provide us with access to attractive business combination opportunities in these industries. Our management team has experience:

        Following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships of our management team and their affiliates to articulate the parameters for our search for a potential target initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.

Business Combination Criteria

        Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and, in evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities, as applicable, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us. We intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria or guidelines.

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        These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.

Competitive Strengths

        We believe we have the following competitive strengths:

Status as a Public Company

        We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock in the target business for shares of our stock or for a combination of shares of our stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. We believe target businesses might find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, roadshow and public reporting efforts that will likely not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us. Furthermore, once the business combination is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters' ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders' interests than it would have as a privately-held company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company's profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. However there is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop. As a result, this purported benefit may not be realized.

        While we believe that our status as a public company will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view the inherent limitations in our status as a blank check company as a deterrent and may prefer to effect a business combination with a more established entity or with a private company. These inherent limitations include limitations on our available financial resources, which may be inferior to those of other entities pursuing the acquisition of similar target businesses; the requirement that we seek stockholder approval of a business combination or conduct a tender offer in relation thereto, which may delay the consummation of a transaction; and the existence of our outstanding warrants, which may represent a source of future dilution.

Financial Position and Flexibility

        With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) assuming no redemptions, and the possibility of further supplementing this amount with the proceeds from the $25,000,000 contingent forward purchase agreement, we can offer a target business a variety of options to facilitate a business combination and fund future expansion and growth of its business. Because we are able to consummate a business combination using the cash proceeds from this offering, our share capital,

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debt or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use an efficient structure allowing us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to address the needs of the parties. However, if a business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay for the purchase price, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing. Accordingly, our flexibility in structuring a business combination may be subject to these constraints.

Offering Structure

        Unlike other blank check companies that sell units comprised of shares of common stock and warrants to purchase a full share of common stock in their initial public offerings, we are selling units comprised of one share of our common stock and three-fourths of one warrant to purchase one share of our common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. Our management believes that investors in similarly structured blank check offerings, and those likely to invest in this offering, have come to expect the units of such companies to include one share of common stock and another security which would allow the holders to acquire additional shares of common stock. Without the ability to acquire such additional shares of common stock, our management believes the investors would not be willing to purchase units in such companies' initial public offerings. Accordingly, because, in our case, the ratio of warrant shares to shares of common stock included in a given purchase of units in this offering is less than the proportion of warrant shares to shares of common stock included in a given purchase of units in the typical structure of other blank check initial public offerings, our management believes we will be viewed more favorably by potential target businesses when determining which company to engage in a business combination with. However, our management may be incorrect in this belief.

Initial Business Combination

General

        We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private units, the forward purchase securities, our common and preferred equity (if any), new debt, or a combination of these, as the consideration to be paid in effecting a business combination which has not yet been identified. Accordingly, investors in this offering are investing without first having an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any one or more business combinations. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

        We will have until 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account and as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to

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our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

We Have Not Identified a Target Business

        To date, we have not selected any target business on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate such companies. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to locate a target business or that we will be able to engage in a business combination with a target business on favorable terms or at all.

        Subject to our officers' and directors' pre-existing fiduciary duties and the limitation that a target business have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Except for the general criteria and guidelines set forth above under the caption " Business Strategy ," we have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of financially unstable and early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.

Sources of Target Businesses

        While we have not yet identified any acquisition candidates, we believe based on our combined team's business knowledge and past experience that there are numerous acquisition candidates. We expect that our principal means of identifying potential target businesses will be through the extensive contacts and relationships of our management team. While our founders, executive officers and directors are not required to commit any specific amount of time in identifying or performing due diligence on potential target businesses, our founders, executive officers and directors believe that the relationships they have developed and their access to their contacts and resources will generate a number of potential business combination opportunities that will warrant further investigation. We also anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our founders, executive officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. Our executive officers and directors must present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations. Cowen Investments is

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under no obligation to present us with potential acquisition targets. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis other than with respect to the Business Combination Marketing Agreement described under "Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Business Combination Marketing Agreement," we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder's fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm's length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. In no event, however, will our sponsor, executive officers, directors or their respective affiliates be paid any finder's fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the $10,000 administrative services fee, the repayment of any loans from our sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses.

        Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to our sponsor, executive officers, directors or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval. We have no present intention to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with any of our founders, executive officers, directors or their respective affiliates. However, we are not restricted from entering into any such transactions and may do so if (i) such transaction is approved by a majority of our disinterested independent directors and (ii) we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view.

Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination

        Subject to our executive officers' and directors' pre-existing fiduciary duties and the limitations that target businesses have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, and that we must acquire a controlling interest in the target business, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. Except for the general criteria and guidelines set forth above under the caption " Business Strategy ," we have not established any specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or more of the following:

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        These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.

        The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.

Fair Market Value of Target Business

        The target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance.

        We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target

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business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.

        We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market value if our Board of Directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.

Lack of Business Diversification

        For an indefinite period of time after consummation of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By consummating our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target's Management Team

        Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business' management may not prove to be correct. The future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. Consequently, members of our management team may not become a part of the target's management team, and the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Further, it is also not certain whether one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination. Moreover, members of our management team may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business. Our key personnel may not remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

        Following our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We may not have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.

Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination

        In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), or (2) provide our stockholders

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with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. We will seek stockholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, provided, that we may also decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

        Under Nasdaq rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:

        If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each stockholder may tender any or all of his, her or its shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Unlike other blank check companies which require stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related redemptions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combination even when a vote is not required by law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such stockholder vote and allow our stockholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC's proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the shares of common stock voted at a stockholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination.

        We chose our net tangible asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, we may need to have more than $5,000,001 in net tangible assets upon consummation and this may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public stockholders may therefore

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have to wait 24 months from the closing of this offering in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account.

        Our founders and our executive officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, including the founder shares and the shares of common stock underlying the private units, (2) not to redeem any shares of common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any shares of common stock in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, we would need only 7,628,789, or approximately 38%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming (i) the over-allotment option is not exercised and all shares were present and entitled to vote at the meeting, (ii) 750,000 founder shares have been forfeited and (iii) there are 600,000 private shares outstanding).

Permitted Purchases of Our Securities

        None of our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or shares of common stock in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination , although they are under no obligation to do so. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. There is no limit on the number of shares or warrants such persons may purchase, or any restriction on the price that they may pay. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions.

        In the event our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates determine to make any such purchases of public shares at the time of a stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, such purchases could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. If any or our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We cannot currently determine whether any of our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as that would be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to the timing and size of any such purchase. Depending on the circumstances, any of our insiders may decide to make purchases of our securities pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or may determine that acting pursuant to such a plan is not required under the Exchange Act.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees and their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom they may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our founders, executive officers, directors, director nominees or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling

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stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against the business combination.

        We do not currently anticipate that purchases of our public shares or public warrants by any of our founders, directors, director nominees, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of our founders, directors, director nominees, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will purchase shares of our common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.

Redemption Rights

        At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public stockholders may seek to redeem their shares of common stock without voting and, if they do vote, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid (which taxes may be paid only from the interest earned on the funds in the trust account). Alternatively, we may provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares of common stock to us through a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid.

        We may also require public stockholders seeking redemption, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in "street name," to either (i) tender their certificates to our transfer agent or (ii) deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder's option, in each case prior to a date set forth in the proxy materials sent in connection with the proposal to approve the business combination.

        There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced delivery process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require stockholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to deliver their shares prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to stockholders.

        Any proxy solicitation materials we furnish to stockholders in connection with a vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring stockholders to satisfy such certification and delivery requirements. Accordingly, a stockholder would have from the time the stockholder received our proxy statement up until the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination to deliver his shares if he wishes to seek to exercise his redemption rights. This time period varies depending on the specific facts of each transaction. However, as the delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not he is a record holder or his shares are held in "street name," in a matter of hours by simply contacting the transfer agent or his broker and

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requesting delivery of his shares through the DWAC System, we believe this time period is sufficient for an average investor. However, we cannot assure you of this fact. Please see the risk factor titled " We will require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares of common stock in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights " for further information on the risks of failing to comply with these requirements.

        The foregoing is different from the procedures historically used by some blank check companies. Traditionally, in order to perfect redemption rights in connection with a blank check company's business combination, the company would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders' vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him to deliver his certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an "option window" after the consummation of the business combination during which he could monitor the price of the company's stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he could sell his shares in the open market before actually delivering his shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become a "continuing" right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a holder's election to redeem his shares is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.

        Any request to redeem such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered his certificate in connection with an election of their redemption and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the proposed business combination not to elect to exercise such rights, he may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).

        If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.

Liquidation if No Business Combination

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete an initial business combination. If we have not completed an initial business combination by such date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay taxes (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of such net 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 (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions

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with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed (pursuant to a written letter agreement with us filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would stop our public stockholders from redeeming their shares of common stock in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, net of franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our founders, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person.

        Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our outstanding public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder's pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

        Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period is not considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidation distribution. If we are unable to complete a business combination within the prescribed time frame, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), 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 (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24-month anniversary of the closing of this offering, and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could

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potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.

        Because we will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.

        We are required to use our reasonable best efforts to have all third parties (including any vendors or other entities we engage after this offering) and any prospective target businesses enter into agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result, the claims that could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the likelihood that any claim would result in any liability extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the trust account to our public stockholders. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you of this fact as there is no guarantee that vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses will execute such agreements. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party's engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. Our underwriters and auditor are the only third parties we are currently aware of that may not execute a waiver. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account.

        In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below: (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in certain instances. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per share redemption price will not be substantially less than $10.00 per share.

        We anticipate notifying the trustee of the trust account to begin liquidating such assets promptly after such date and anticipate it will take no more than ten business days to effectuate such distribution. Our founders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares and private shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless. We will pay the costs of any subsequent liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account and the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that we are permitted to withdraw to pay such expenses.

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        If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share redemption price would be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to claims of our creditors that are in preference to the claims of public stockholders.

        Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of our failure to complete a business combination within the required time period or if the stockholders seek to redeem their respective shares upon a business combination which is actually completed by us or upon certain amendments to our charter documents as described elsewhere herein. In no other circumstances shall a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.

        Our founders will not participate in any redemption distribution from our trust account with respect to such founder shares. Additionally, any loans made by our officers, directors, sponsors or their affiliates for working capital needs will be forgiven and not repaid if we are unable to complete an initial business combination.

        If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public stockholders at least $10.00 per share.

        If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a "preferential transfer" or a "fraudulent conveyance." As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public stockholders promptly after twenty-four months from the date of this prospectus, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. These provisions, including provisions regarding the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, cannot be amended without the approval of holders of at least 65% of our common stock. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would stop our public stockholders from redeeming or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will provide dissenting public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our founders, any executive officer, director or director nominee, or any other person. Our founders, executive

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officers and directors have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any common stock held by them, and any public shares they may hold in connection with any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:

Competition

        In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.

        The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:

    §
    our obligation to seek stockholder approval of a business combination or engage in a tender offer may delay the completion of a transaction;
    §
    our obligation to redeem shares of common stock held by our public stockholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination;
    §
    our outstanding warrants, and the potential future dilution they represent.

        Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage

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over privately-held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.

        If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.

Facilities

        We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543. The cost for this space is included in the $10,000 per-month aggregate fee an affiliate of our sponsor will charge us for general and administrative services commencing on the date of this prospectus pursuant to a letter agreement between us and our sponsor. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services in the Mamaroneck area, that the fee charged by our sponsor is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.

Employees

        We have four executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once a suitable target business to acquire has been located, management will spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time on our affairs) than had been spent prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.

Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements

        We have registered our units, common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.

        We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with or reconciled to United States generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial statements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.

        We may be required to have our internal control procedures audited for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

Legal Proceedings

        There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team.

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COMPARISON OF THIS OFFERING TO THOSE OF BLANK CHECK COMPANIES SUBJECT TO RULE 419

        The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.

 
  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Escrow of offering proceeds

  $200,000,000 of the net offering proceeds (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), which includes the $6,000,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the private units (or $6,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), will be deposited into a trust account in the United States in New York, New York, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee.   $176,400,000 of the net offering proceeds (or $202,860,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.

Investment of net proceeds

 

$200,000,000 of the net offering proceeds (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), which includes the $6,000,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of the private units (or $6,600,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised), held in trust will be invested in United States "government securities" within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.

 

Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Receipt of interest on escrowed funds

 

Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by any taxes paid or payable and up to $100,000 payable for dissolution expenses.

 

Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our consummation of a business combination.

Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business

 

Our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination.

 

The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.

Trading of securities issued

 

The units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The public shares and public warrants may begin trading separately on the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus unless Cowen informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering, such Form 8-K to be amended or supplemented with updated financial information in the event the over-allotment option is exercised or if Cowen permits separate trading prior to the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus.

 

No trading of the units or the underlying public shares or warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.

Exercise of the warrants

 

The warrants cannot be exercised until the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering and, accordingly, will be exercised only after the trust account has been terminated and distributed.

 

The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Election to remain an investor

 

We will either (1) give our stockholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less taxes. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each stockholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Under Delaware law and our bylaws, we must provide at least 10 days advance notice of any meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to exercise their rights to redeem their shares for cash or to remain an investor in our company. Alternatively, if we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. Under the tender offer rules, a tender offer must remain open for 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to sell their shares to us in such a tender offer or to remain an investor in our company.

 

A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company's registration statement, to decide if he, she or it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his, her or its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45 th  business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Business combination deadline

 

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of interest that may be used by us to pay our franchise and income taxes payable, 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 (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

 

If an acquisition has not been consummated within 18 months after the effective date of the company's registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.

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  Terms of Our Offering   Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Release of funds

 

Except for interest earned on the funds in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period; (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination in the required time period;, (3) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders' rights or pre-business combination activity.

 

The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and the failure to effect our initial business combination within the allotted time.

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MANAGEMENT

        Our current directors, executive officers and director nominees are listed below.

Name
  Age   Position

Stephen Girsky

    55   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mary Chan

    55   Chief Operating Officer

Steve Shindler

    55   Chief Financial Officer

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant

    50   Treasurer

Robert Gendelman

    59   Director Nominee*

Sarah W. Hallac

    53   Director Nominee*

Richard J. Lynch

    69   Director Nominee*

Victoria McInnis

    56   Director Nominee*

*
This individual will occupy the position of director on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

         Stephen Girsky has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director since January 2018. Mr. Girsky is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in New York. Mr. Girsky has more than 30 years of experience working with corporate board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers, dealers and national policy makers. Mr. Girsky served in a number of capacities at General Motors from November 2009 until July 2014, including Vice Chairman, having responsibility for global corporate strategy, new business development, global product planning and program management, global connected consumer/OnStar, and GM Ventures LLC, Global Research & Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mr. Girsky served as Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board from November 2011 to January 2014 and was President of GM Europe from July 2012 to March 2013. He also served on General Motors' Board of Directors following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2009 until June 2016. Mr. Girsky has also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP and a multibillion dollar investment fund, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to Centerbridge, Mr. Girsky served as Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors from 2005 to 2006, and prior to that Mr. Girsky served as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team. Mr. Girsky currently serves on the Boards of Directors of United States Steel Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners Limited, the general partner of Brookfield Business Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BBU; TSX BBU.UN), as well as three private companies, drive.ai, Valens Semiconductor and Millstein & Co. We believe Mr. Girsky is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive leadership and business experience, together with his strong background in finance and public company governance.

         Mary Chan has served as our Chief Operating Officer since January 2018. Ms. Chan is a Managing Partner of VectoIQ, LLC. Ms. Chan served as President, Global Connected Consumer of General Motors from May 2012 to May 2015. In that role, she was responsible for building the next generation of connected vehicle product and services. Prior to General Motors, she worked at Dell Inc., where she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility Solutions & Services from 2009 to 2012. At Dell, Ms. Chan was responsible for developing Consumer PC/Gaming products and Enterprise Mobility Application services. Prior to Dell, with over 20 years of wireless infrastructure experience she was the EVP/President Global Wireless Network Group at Alcatel-Lucent and SVP of Wireless R&D at Lucent Technologies Inc. Ms. Chan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Magna International Inc. (NYSE: MGA), Dialog Semiconductor PLC (ETR: DLG), SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) and

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Microelectronics Technology Inc. (TPE: 2314), as well as two private companies, WiTricity Corporation and Service King.

         Steve Shindler has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2018. Mr. Shindler is a Director of NII Holdings, Inc., a provider of differentiated mobile communications services for businesses and high value consumers in Latin America. Mr. Shindler served as Chief Executive Officer of NII from 2012 until August of 2017 as well as from 2000 to 2008. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shindler successfully transformed NII from a start-up operation into a leading wireless provider with nearly 11.5 million subscribers. In his most recent role as Chief Executive Officer of NII, Mr. Shindler guided the company through a financial restructuring that included sales of its core businesses in Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile, as well as a voluntary petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in September 2014, where he continued in the Chief Executive Officer role following its emergence from bankruptcy in June 2015. Mr. Shindler joined Nextel Communications, Inc. in 1996 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nextel, Mr. Shindler was Managing Director of Communications Finance at The Toronto Dominion Bank, one of the largest suppliers of capital to the wireless industry. Mr. Shindler is also a founding partner of RIME Communications Capital, a firm that has invested in early stage media, tech and telco companies.

         Mindy Luxenberg-Grant has served as our Treasurer since January 2018. Ms. Luxenberg-Grant is the Chief Financial Officer of VectoIQ LLC. Prior to joining VectoIQ LLC, Ms. Luxenberg-Grant was a Founder and has served as Chief Financial Officer of Headhaul Capital Partners LLC since April 2013. Ms. Luxenberg-Grant was also the Chief Financial Officer of Jefferies Capital Partners LLC and its predecessors from 1997 to 2009. She was a Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she specialized in business assurances and tax services as part of its Entrepreneurial Advisory Services group and serviced exclusively venture capital and private investment fund clients. Ms. Luxenberg-Grant also spent two years as the Chief Financial Officer of Western NIS Enterprise Fund, a venture capital fund which invested in small and medium-sized companies based primarily in the Ukraine.

         Robert Gendelman will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Mr. Gendelman has served as Senior Portfolio Manager and head of Equity Investments at Loews Corporation, a diversified holding company, since January 2013. Prior to joining Loews Corporation, Mr. Gendelman was Chief Investment Officer for RG Advisors, and prior to that was Managing Director at Clearbridge Advisors, where he managed assets for Legg Mason Partners Capital & Income Fund. He also spent approximately 10 years as a portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman. We believe Mr. Gendelman is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive experience in the financial services industry and evaluating investments.

         Sarah W. Hallac will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Ms. Hallac has served as a consultant for a corporate philanthropic initiative by BlackRock, Inc., an investment management corporation. Ms. Hallac is a retired investment banker from Bear, Stearns and Company, where she spent her entire career in the Financial Analytics and Structured Transactions group. Ms. Hallac was involved in the early days of mortgage securitization including the first Agency Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). Ms. Hallac has been published in several books, including The Handbook of Mortgage-Backed Securities. We believe Ms. Hallac is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on her extensive experience in investment banking and evaluating investments.

         Richard J. Lynch will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Mr. Lynch has served as President of FB Associates, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in the telecommunications industry, since October 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Lynch held the positions of

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Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer with Verizon Communications and with Verizon Wireless and its predecessors. Mr. Lynch currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN) and a director of Blackberry Limited (NYSE: BB). We believe Mr. Lynch is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive leadership experience in the technology industry and serving on the Boards of public companies.

         Victoria McInnis will serve as a director following the completion of this offering. Ms. McInnis held various positions with General Motors Corporation prior to her retirement in August 2017, including Vice President, Tax and Audit March 2015 to August 2017, Chief Tax Officer from 2009 to March 2015 and, prior to that, Executive Director, Tax Counsel, General Tax Director, Europe, Director of Federal Tax Audits, and Senior Tax Counsel, GM Canada. We believe Ms. McInnis is well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on her extensive experience in the automotive industry and her financial expertise.

        On March 4, 2014, a purported class action lawsuit was filed against NII and certain of NII's current and former directors and executive officers (including Mr. Shindler) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the securities of NII between February 25, 2010 and February 27, 2014. In September 2016, a settlement was entered into that fully released all claims against the individual defendants.

Other Advisors

        In addition to our management, the investors noted below have invested in our sponsor individually or through their affiliates. None of these individuals are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs; however, we anticipate that certain of these individuals may provide us referrals to potential target businesses, and be available from time to time to consult with us regarding potential business combination opportunities.

         Daniel F. Akerson served as Vice Chairman of The Carlyle Group from March 2014 to December 2015. Mr. Akerson was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors Company from January 2011 until his retirement in January 2014. He was elected to the Board of Directors of General Motors Company in 2009 and was Chief Executive Officer from September 2010 to December 2010. Prior to joining General Motors Company, he was a Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, serving as the Head of Global Buyout from July 2009 to August 2010 and as Co-Head of U.S. Buyout from June 2003 to June 2009. Prior to his time at GM and Carlyle, he held a variety of executive roles including Chairman and CEO of XO Communications (1999-2003), Chairman and CEO of Nextel Communications, Inc. (1996-2001), Chairman and CEO of General Instrument (1993-1995) and Executive Vice President, President and COO of MCI Communications (1983-1993). Mr. Akerson currently serves as Chairman of the United States Naval Academy Foundation, Chairman of KrolLDiscovery, LLC, an information services company, and as a member of the board of directors of Lockheed Martin.

         Noriaki Hirakata is currently an advisor at VectoIQ, LLC. Prior to that, Mr. Hirakata was Team Leader of the Alliance Strategy Division at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. At Mitsubishi, he was responsible for strategy development for the Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors alliance, directly reporting to the CEO. Mr. Hirakata was instrumental in forging the agreement between the two automotive manufacturers and played a leading role in developing the alliance's medium-term product, technology and strategic plans. Prior to Mitsubishi, he served as Head of Investor Relations at Nexon Co, playing an integral part in the firm's ¥600B initial public offering. Before Nexon, Mr. Hirakata was managing director and equity analyst at Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities. During his 16 years at Morgan Stanley MUFG, he won top research analyst awards as the lead Japanese

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automotive analyst. Prior to Morgan Stanley MUFG, Mr. Hirakata was an analyst and fund manager in the Institutional Investment Division of Yasuda Mutual Life.

         Stefan Jacoby has had more than 30 years of broad international experience in the automotive industry including more than 11 years of experience as a CEO and executive Vice President. Mr. Jacoby served as executive Vice President of General Motors, President of General Motors International Operations and was a member of the Global Executive leadership team until March 2018. Prior to joining General Motors, Mr. Jacoby was the Global CEO and President of Volvo Car Corporation, and prior to that was the CEO and President of Volkswagen Group of America. Prior to those roles at Volkswagen Group of America, he also held the roles of Executive Vice President of Group Marketing and Sales at Volkswagen, as well as CEO and President at Mitsubishi Motors Europe. Mr. Jacoby currently sits on the board of GM Korea and has had past board experience at Volvo Car Corporation, Auto Alliance, Volkswagen AG, and a JV company of Volkswagen AG, SAIC and FAW. He has also been a member of supervisory boards at LeasePlan Corporation, Volkswagen Financial Services AG and Europcar.

         James Millstein is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Millstein & Co., a financial advisory firm. From 2009 to March 2011, Mr. Millstein was the Chief Restructuring Officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In that role, he was responsible for oversight and management of the Department's largest investments in the financial sector and was the principal architect of AIG's restructuring and recapitalization. Prior to joining the Treasury, Mr. Millstein served as Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Corporate Restructuring at Lazard from 2000 to 2008. Before joining Lazard, Mr. Millstein was Partner and Head of the Corporate Restructuring practice at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.

         Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann is a senior executive with 25 years of international business experience in the semiconductor and automotive industries. Dr. Neumann served as the Senior Vice President at General Motors and was CEO of Adam Opel AG. Prior to that, Dr. Neumann was the CEO and President of Volkswagen Group China. At Volkswagen, he held several other roles including Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group, Electromobility. Prior to that, he held various executive roles at Continental AG, including CEO, CTO and acting CFO. Dr. Neumann started his career at Motorola and held a number of roles including Design Engineer, Senior Systems Engineer and Director of Strategy and Advanced System Laboratories.

Number, Terms of Office and Election of Executive Officers and Directors

        Our Board of Directors is divided into two classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of                  and                   will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of                  and                  , will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq).

        Our executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our Board of Directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our executive officers may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

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Director Independence

        Nasdaq requires that a majority of our board must be composed of "independent directors," which is defined generally as a person other than an executive officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of our Board of Directors would interfere with the director's exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

        Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, Mr. Gendelman, Ms. Hallac, Mr. Lynch and Ms. McInnis will be our independent directors. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. Any affiliated transactions will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any affiliated transactions must be approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors.

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

        Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month, which funds will be used to pay for office space and general and administrative services. This arrangement is being agreed to by an affiliate of our sponsor for our benefit and is not intended to provide such affiliate compensation in lieu of a salary. We believe that such fees are at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated third party for such services.

        Except as set forth above, no compensation will be paid to our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our independent directors will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, executive officers, directors or our or their affiliates.

        After the completion of our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us, may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommenced, to the Board of Directors for determination, either by a committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our Board of Directors.

        We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management's motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

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Committees of the Board of Directors

        Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our Board of Directors will have two standing committees, an audit committee and a compensation committee. Each of our audit committee and our compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our board and will have the composition and responsibilities described below.

Audit Committee

        Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the Board of Directors.                      will serve as members of our audit committee.                      will serve as chairman of the audit committee. Under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have three members of the audit committee all of whom must be independent.                      are independent.

        Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our Board of Directors has determined that qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in applicable SEC rules.

        We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

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Compensation Committee

        Upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The members of our Compensation Committee will be                      .                       will serve as chairman of the compensation committee. We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:

        The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.

Director Nominations

        We do not have a standing nominating committee, though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by applicable law or stock exchange rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq listing rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.

        Prior to our initial business combination, the board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at an annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a

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special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the Board should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.

        We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the Board of Directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our shareholders. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our Board of Directors.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

        We have adopted a code of conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. We will file a copy of our form of Code of Ethics and our audit committee charter as exhibits to the registration statement. You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov . In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. For additional details, please see " Where You Can Find Additional Information ."

Conflicts of Interest

        Investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:

        In general, executive officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:

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        Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.

        In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of our execution of a definitive agreement for a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he or she ceases to be an officer or director, to present to our company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations he or she might have. Accordingly, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our executive officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have.

        Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers, directors and director nominees currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations.

Individual
  Entity   Entity's Business   Affiliation

Stephen Girsky

  VectoIQ, LLC   Independent advisory firm   Managing Partner

  United States Steel Corporation   Steel production   Director

  Brookfield Business Partners Limited   Business services and industrials   Director

  Drive.ai   Autonomous vehicle software   Director

  Valens Semiconductor   Semiconductor provider   Director

  Millstein & Co.   Financial advisory firm   Director

Mary Chan

  VectoIQ, LLC   Independent advisory firm   Managing Partner

  Magna International Inc.   Global automotive supplier   Director

  Dialog Semiconductor PLC   Semiconductor manufacturer   Director

  SBA Communications Corporation   Wireless infrastructure provider   Director

  Microelectronics Technology Inc   Communications equipment provider   Director

  WiTricity Corporation   Wireless electric vehicle charging technology   Director

  Service King   Automotive collision repair   Director

Steve Shindler

  NII Holdings, Inc.   Mobile communications services provider   Director

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant

  VectoIQ, LLC   Independent advisory firm   Chief Financial Officer

Robert Gendelman

  Loews Corporation   Diversified holding company   Senior Portfolio Manager, Head of Equity Investments

Richard J. Lynch

  FB Associates, LLC   Consulting   President

  Ribbon Communications Inc.   Communications equipment   Director

  Blackberry Limited   Enterprise software   Director

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        In addition, our executive officers and directors have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an executive officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering.

        If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our founders, as well as all of our executive officers, directors and director nominees, have agreed to vote any shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to their founder shares or the shares of common stock underlying the private units. If they purchase shares of common stock as part of this offering or in the open market, however, they would be entitled to participate in any liquidation distribution in respect of such shares but have agreed not to redeem or sell such shares to us in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination.

        All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our sponsor, executive officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested "independent" directors or the members of our Board of Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested "independent" directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

        The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our shares of common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus and private units, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:

        Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the forward purchase securities or any shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.

 
  Prior to Offering   After Offering(2)  
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
  Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
common stock(3)
  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
  Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Stock(4)
 

VectoIQ Holdings, LLC(5)

    3,805,394     66.2 %   3,651,212     14.3 %

Cowen Investments, LLC

    1,449,000     25.2 %   1,460,000     5.7 %

BlackRock, Inc.(6)

    435,606     7.6 %   428,788     1.7 %

Stephen Girsky(7)

    3,805,394     66.2 %   3,651,212     14.3 %

Mary Chan(7)

                 

Steve Shindler(7)

                 

Mindy Luxenberg-Grant(7)

                 

Robert Gendelman

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

Sarah W. Hallac

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

Richard J. Lynch

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

Victoria McInnis

    15,000     *     15,000     *  

All directors and officers as a group (8 individuals)

    3,865,394     67.2 %   3,711,212     14.5 %

*
Less than one percent
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, New York 10543.
(2)
Assumes (i) no exercise of the over-allotment option, (ii) an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock have been forfeited by our founders and anchor investor and (iii) 600,000 private units have been purchased by our founders and anchor investor simultaneously with the consummation of this offering.
(3)
Based on 5,750,000 shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to this offering.
(4)
Based on 25,600,000 shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering.
(5)
Represents shares held by our sponsor. The shares held by our sponsor are beneficially owned by Stephen Girsky, President and Chief Executive Officer and the manager of our sponsor, who has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by our sponsor.
(6)
The registered holders of the referenced shares are funds and accounts under management by investment adviser subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock, Inc. is the ultimate parent holding company of such investment adviser entities. On behalf of such investment adviser entities, the applicable portfolio managers, as a managing directors of such entities, have voting and

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    investment power over the shares held by the funds and accounts which are the registered holders of the referenced shares. Such portfolio managers expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of all shares held by such funds and accounts. The address of such funds and accounts, such investment adviser subsidiaries and such portfolio managers is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.

(7)
Ms. Chan, Mr. Shindler and Ms. Luxenberg-Grant hold economic interests in our sponsor and pecuniary interests in the securities held by our sponsor. Each of Ms. Chan, Mr. Shindler and Ms. Luxenberg-Grant disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein.

        Immediately after this offering (without the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option), our founders, anchor investor, executive officers and directors will beneficially own approximately 22% of our issued and outstanding common stock (assuming our founders do not purchase any public units), with our sponsor beneficially owning approximately 14.3% of such issued and outstanding common stock.

        Because of this ownership block, our founders, together, and our sponsor acting alone, may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors, amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions.

        To the extent the underwriters do not exercise the over-allotment option, up to an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture. Our founders and anchor investor will be required to forfeit only a number of founder shares necessary to maintain a 20% ownership interest in our shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering (assuming that they do not purchase any units in this offering and without giving effect to the sale of the private units) after giving effect to the offering and without giving effect to the exercise, if any, of the underwriters' over-allotment option. Our sponsor may forfeit up to 504,182 founder shares, the anchor investor may forfeit up to 56,818 founder shares and Cowen Investments may forfeit up to 189,000 founder shares

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

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        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        Subject to certain limited exceptions, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then all of such shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares.

        During the lock-up period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except (1) to any persons (including their affiliates and members) participating in the private placement of the private units, (2) amongst our founders or to our officers, directors and employees, (3) if a holder is an entity, as a distribution to its, partners, stockholders or members upon its liquidation, (4) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder's immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a holder or a member of a holder's immediate family, for estate planning purposes, (5) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (6) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (7) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of our securities, (8) by private sales at prices no greater than the price at which the applicable securities were originally purchased or (9) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, in each case (except for clause 9) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the insider letter. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, there will be no liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, there will be no liquidation distribution with respect to the founder shares, the private units or the securities underlying the private units.

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        Our founders and anchor investor have committed that they and/or their respective designees will purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised) at $10.00 per unit, among which 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering, provided that the additional private units whose purchase is triggered by the exercise of the over-allotment option will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of public units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except the private warrants will be non-redeemable and may be exercised on a cashless basis, in each case so long as they continue to be held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. In addition, for as long as the private warrants are held by Cowen Investments or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Our founders, directors, director nominees and executive officers have agreed (and any of their permitted transferees will agree) (A) to vote their private shares in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, (C) not to redeem any private shares or private units (and underlying securities) in connection with a stockholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination and (D) that such private shares and private units (and underlying securities) shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated, until all of the claims of any redeeming stockholders and creditors are fully satisfied (and then only from funds held outside the trust account). Additionally, the purchasers of the private units have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last sale price of our common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then the private shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any private shares

Registration Rights

        Our founders, anchor investor, executive officers, directors and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the founder shares, the private units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of working capital loans, pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the date of this prospectus. The holders of the private units (or underlying securities) are entitled to demand that the Company register these securities at any time after the Company consummates a Business Combination. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights on registration statements filed after the Company's consummation of a Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and

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"piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase securities and the common stock underlying the forward purchase warrants, (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter and (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the securities covered thereby have been sold or otherwise transferred and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing such registration statement.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        On February 15, 2018, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to our founders for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash, or approximately $0.004 per share. In March 2018, our sponsor transferred 15,000 founder shares to each of our initial director nominees. Up to 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture by our founders and anchor investor to the extent the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised.

        Subject to certain limited exceptions, our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares.

        Our founders and anchor investor have committed that they and/or their respective designees will purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised) at $10.00 per unit, among which 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These purchases shall take place as private placements simultaneously with the sale of the public units in this offering. Our founders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private shares or the shares of common stock underlying the private units (except to certain permitted transferees as described below) until the earlier of (i) one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (ii) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. The purchasers of the private units have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then the private shares will be released from the lock-up. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any private shares.

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward

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purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

        Our anchor investor has expressed to us an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in this offering and we have agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to our anchor investor such number of public units. Further, the anchor investor has agreed with us that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in this offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to this offering on a pro rata basis. In such a case, our sponsor (or its designee), will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the private placement units held by our anchor investor at their original purchase price. There can be no assurance that the anchor investor will acquire any public units in this offering or what amount of equity the anchor investor will retain, if any, upon the consummation of our initial business combination. In the event that such anchor investor purchases such units (either in this offering or after) and votes them in favor of our initial business combination, it is possible that no votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination, depending on the number of shares that are present at the meeting to approve such transaction. As a result of the founder shares and private placement units that our anchor investor may hold, it may have different interests with respect to a vote on an initial business combination than other public stockholders.

        On March 1, 2018, we issued two promissory notes, one to our sponsor and a second to Cowen Investments. Each of the individual notes is in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000. The notes both contain a drawdown feature such that at any time prior to the consummation of this offering we may draw up to an aggregate of $100,000 on each of the notes for general working capital expenses. The notes are both non-interest bearing and will mature on such date as is the earlier of the date on which we close this offering and June 30, 2018.

        In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our founders, executive officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into additional units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

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        The holders of our founder shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units and any units our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (and all underlying securities), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the founder shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these shares of common stock are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the founders' units or units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

        An affiliate of our sponsor has agreed that, commencing on the effective date of this prospectus through the earlier of our consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation, it will make available to us certain general and administrative services, including office space and general and administrative services, as we may require from time to time. We have agreed to pay the affiliate of our sponsor an aggregate of $10,000 per month for these services.

        Other than the foregoing, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder's, consulting fees and other similar fees, will be paid to our sponsor, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive the repayment of any loans from our sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.

        After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.

        All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested "independent" directors or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested "independent"

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directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

Related Party Policy

        Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the Board of Directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.

        Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. The audit committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party's interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he is a related party, but that director is required to provide the audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors' and officers' questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

        These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

        To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, officers or directors including (i) an entity that is either a portfolio company of, or has otherwise received a material financial investment from, any private equity fund or investment company (or an affiliate thereof) that is affiliated with any of the foregoing, (ii) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently passive investors, (iii) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently officers or directors, or (iv) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently invested through an investment vehicle controlled by them, unless we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, and the approval of a majority of our disinterested independent directors that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

General

        As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, 5,750,000 shares of common stock are outstanding. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. The following description summarizes the material terms of our securities. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you. For a complete description you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the form of warrant agreement, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.

Units

        Each unit consists of one share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant to purchase one share of common stock for a price of $11.50 per whole share of common stock, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and (b) 12 months from the closing of this offering. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that the private warrants issued to Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i).

        The shares of common stock and warrants will begin to trade separately on the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus unless Cowen informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided that in no event may the shares of common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering. Once the shares of common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component pieces.

        We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating if Cowen. has allowed separate trading of the shares of common stock and warrants prior to the 52 nd  day after the date of this prospectus.

Common Stock

        Prior to the date of this prospectus, there were 5,750,000 shares of our common stock outstanding. Our founders, anchor investor, executive officers and directors will own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (excluding private shares and assuming they do not

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purchase any units in this offering). Upon the closing of this offering, 25,600,000 shares of our common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 750,000 founder shares). If we increase or decrease the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the representation by the founder shares of 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering (excluding the private shares).

        Common stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if a vote is held to approve a business combination, a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination.

        Our Board of Directors is divided into two classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of                           , will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of                           , will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares eligible to vote for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.

        In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. Our fiscal year end will be on December 31. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.

        We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price which is payable in cash and equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.00 per public share. Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into letter agreements with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private shares and

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public shares in connection with the completion of our business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

        Unlike many blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a stockholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC's proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules.

        If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voting at a stockholder meeting are voted in favor of the business combination. However, the participation of our founders, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our business combination.

        If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that 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 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders' ability to vote all of their shares for or against our business combination.

        If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our business combination, our founders have agreed to vote their founder shares, private shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, we would need only 7,628,789 of the 20,000,000 public shares, or approximately 38%, sold in this offering to be voted in favor of our initial business combination in order to have such transaction approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares without voting, and, if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

        Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more

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than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price which is payable in cash and equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us and 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 (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (1) waive their redemption rights with respect to any common stock hold by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights and (2) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our founders, executive officers, directors or director nominees acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our business combination within the 24-month time frame.

        In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable by us) upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus.

Warrants

        No warrants are currently outstanding. Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of this offering or 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

        No public warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such warrant shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within 90 days from the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement or a current prospectus, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or

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issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. In addition, any private warrants held by Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

        The private warrants will be identical to the public warrants underlying the units being offered by this prospectus except that such private warrants will be exercisable for cash (even if a registration statement covering the issuance of the warrant shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants is not effective) or on a cashless basis, at the holder's option, and will not be redeemable by us, in each case so long as they are still held by the founders or their affiliates.

        Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (excluding the private warrants):

        We will not redeem the warrants unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the warrant shares underlying the warrants to be so redeemed is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those warrant shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

        If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder may exercise his, her or its warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the shares of common stock may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $11.50 exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued.

        The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

        If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a "cashless basis." In making such determination, our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of warrant shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. In such event, the holder would pay the exercise price 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 warrant shares

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underlying the warrants to be so exercised, and the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the fair market value by (y) the fair market value.

        A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will 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) of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

        If 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 will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of common stock. A rights offering to holders of common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of common stock at a price less than the fair market value will 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 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 these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, in determining the price payable for common stock, there will 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 common stock as reported during the 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.

        In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of common stock on account of such shares of common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of common stock in connection with a proposed initial business combination or the approval of any amendment to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation our pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights, including the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, (d) as a result of the repurchase of shares of common stock by the Company if the proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of common stock in respect of such event.

        If the number of outstanding shares of our 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 event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of common stock.

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        Whenever the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will 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 will be the number of shares of common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

        In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our 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 us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will 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 our common stock 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 their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders 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 for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (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 our amended and restated 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) 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) 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) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive 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 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 the warrant agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of common stock in such a transaction 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 of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within 30 days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the per share consideration minus Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value

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portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.

        The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement will provide that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants.

        The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

        No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.

Forward Purchase Securities

        The forward purchase investor has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us as described below. Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we may elect (subject to the forward purchase investor's right to be excused from any specific business combination as described below) to have the forward purchase investor purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, at a price of $10.00 per forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. While we may elect to have the forward purchase investor purchase no securities under the contingent forward purchase agreement, if we request that the forward purchase investor purchase securities and the forward purchase investor defaults on such purchase or the forward purchase investor exercises its right of refusal as described herein, the forward purchase investor will forfeit up to all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. The forward purchase investor will have the right to be excused from its purchase obligation in connection with any specific business combination if, within five days following written notice delivered by us of our intention to enter into a specific business combination, the forward purchase investor notifies us that it has decided not to proceed with the purchase for any reason. If the forward purchase investor exercises such right, it will forfeit all of its ownership interest in our sponsor related to founder shares, and our sponsor will have the right to redeem the forward purchase investor's remaining ownership interest in our sponsor at the original purchase price. Any funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities may be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination, for expenses in connection with the initial business combination or for the combined company's working capital needs. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and could provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.

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Preferred Stock

        There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common stock. However, the underwriting agreement prohibits us, prior to a business combination, from issuing preferred stock which participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or which votes as a class with the common stock on a business combination. We may issue some or all of the preferred stock to effect a business combination. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.

Dividends

        We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then Board of Directors. It is the present intention of our Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.

Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

        The transfer agent for our securities and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

Listing of Securities

        We anticipate that the units, as well as the shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units (once they begin separate trading), will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQU," "VTIQ" and "VTIQW," respectively.

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Special meeting of stockholders

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our Board of Directors, by our Chief Executive Officer or by our Chairman.

Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations

        Our bylaws will provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder's notice will need to be received by the company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90 th  day nor earlier than the open of business on the 120 th  day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must

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comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders' meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.

Authorized but unissued shares

        Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Exclusive Forum Selection

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware 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. Although we believe this provision benefits our company by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

        We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain "business combinations" with any "interested stockholder" for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

        Generally, a "business combination" includes a merger, asset or stock sale or certain other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with that person's affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock.

        Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an "interested stockholder" to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions

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also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our sponsor and its respective affiliates, any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of our outstanding common stock and any group as to which such persons are party to, do not constitute "interested stockholders" for purposes of this provision.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be classified into two classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings.

        Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.

        Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.

        These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder's investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

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SECURITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

        Immediately after this offering we will have 25,600,000 (or 29,410,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 20,000,000 (or 23,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the 5,000,000 founder shares (or 5,750,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 600,000 (or 660,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) private shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.

Rule 144

        Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.

        Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of common stock and warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:

        Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies

        Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:

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        As a result, our founders will be able to sell their founder shares and private units, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.

Registration Rights

        Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into on the date of this prospectus, our founders, anchor investor, executive officers, directors and director nominees and their permitted transferees can demand that we register for resale the founder shares, the private Units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of working capital loans. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

        Pursuant to the contingent forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase securities and the common stock underlying the forward purchase warrants, (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter and (iii) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the securities covered thereby have been sold or otherwise transferred and, (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing such registration statement.

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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units or components thereof, which we refer to collectively as our securities, assuming you purchase the securities in this offering and will hold them as capital assets within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

        This discussion assumes that the one share of our common stock and warrants to acquire one whole share of our common stock will each trade separately and does not address all of the U.S. federal income and estate tax considerations that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances. In particular, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to persons subject to special rules, such as:

        The following does not discuss any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation. This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, Treasury regulations, judicial opinions, published positions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and all other applicable authorities, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.

        If an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our securities, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the entity. If you are a partner in such an entity, you should consult your tax advisor.

         WE URGE PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ACQUIRING, HOLDING AND DISPOSING OF OUR SECURITIES.

Personal Holding Company Status

        We could be subject to United States federal income tax at rates in excess of those generally applicable to corporations on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for United States federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation will generally be classified as a PHC for United States federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain

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tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation's adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).

        Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock will be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.

Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit

        No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our common stock and three-fourths of one warrant to purchase one share of common stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. Each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. The price allocated to each share of common stock and the warrant should be the stockholder's tax basis in such share or warrant, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of one share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the share of common stock and the warrant based on their respective relative fair market values. The separation of the share of common stock and three-fourths of one warrant comprising a unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        The foregoing treatment of the shares of common stock and warrants and a holder's purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Holders

        This section is addressed to U.S. holders of our securities. For purposes of this discussion, you are a "U.S. holder" if you are a beneficial owner of a security that is:

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Taxation of Distributions

        If we pay distributions to U.S. holders of shares of our common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the common stock and will be treated as described under " U.S. Holders—Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants " below.

        Dividends we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder generally will constitute "qualified dividends" that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied, then a corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and non-corporate holders may be subject to tax on such dividend at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.

Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants

        Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock or warrants which may include a redemption of common stock or warrants as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in the common stock or warrants. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder's holding period for the common stock or warrants so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares or warrants would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

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        Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder in any such taxable transaction is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the common stock or warrants are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the common stock or the warrants based upon the then fair market values of the common stock and the warrants included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its common stock or warrants so disposed of. A U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its common stock or warrants generally will equal the U.S. holder's acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of common stock or warrant or, as discussed below, the U.S. holder's initial basis for common stock received upon exercise of warrants) less, in the case of a share of common stock, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.

Redemption of common stock

        In the event that a U.S. holder's common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under " Description of Securities—common stock " or if we purchase a U.S. holder's common stock in an open market transaction, the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as sale of the common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as described under " U.S. Holders—Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of common stock and Warrants " above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under " U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions ". Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption of common stock generally will be treated as a sale of the common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (i) is "substantially disproportionate" with respect to the U.S. holder, (ii) results in a "complete termination" of the U.S. holder's interest in us or (iii) is "not essentially equivalent to a dividend" with respect to the U.S. holder. These tests are explained more fully below.

        In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by such U.S. holder. A U.S. holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. holder, as well as any stock the U.S. holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately following the redemption of common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. holder's interest if either (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed and the U.S. holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. holder does not constructively own any other stock. The redemption of the common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. holder's conversion results in a "meaningful reduction" of the U.S. holder's proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. holder's proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances.

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However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a "meaningful reduction." A U.S. holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including the application of the constructive ownership rules described above.

        If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under " U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions ," above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. holder in the redeemed common stock should be added to the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.

Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant.

        Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. holder generally will not recognize taxable gain or loss on the acquisition of common stock upon exercise of a warrant for cash. The U.S. holder's tax basis in the share of our common stock received upon exercise of the warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. holder's initial investment in the warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder's purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under "— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit ") and the exercise price of such warrant. The U.S. holder's holding period for the common stock received upon exercise of the warrants will begin on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrants and will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrants. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder's tax basis in the warrant.

        The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-free situation, a U.S. holder's basis in the common stock received would equal the holder's basis in the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, a U.S. holder's holding period in the common stock would be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the common stock would include the holding period of the warrant.

        It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. holder would be deemed to have surrendered warrants equal to the number of shares of common stock having a value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the common stock represented by the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder's tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. holder's tax basis in the common stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. holder's initial investment in the warrants exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder's purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under "— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit ") and the exercise price of such warrants. A U.S. holder's holding period for the common stock would commence on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrant.

        Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding

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periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.

Possible Constructive Distributions

        The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned " Description of Securities—Warrants ." An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment to the number of such shares or to such exercise price increases the warrant holders' proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property, such as other securities, to the holders of shares of our common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of shares of our common stock, in each case which is taxable to the U.S. holders of such shares as described under " U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions " above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. holders of the warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

        In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, shares of common stock and warrants, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).

        Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

        All U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

Non-U.S. Holders

        This section applies to you if you are a "Non-U.S. holder." A Non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our units, shares of common stock and warrants who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

but does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale or other disposition of a security.

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Taxation of Distributions

        In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes; provided, that, such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a Non-U.S. holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such Non-U.S. holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the common stock, which will be treated as described under " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants " below. In addition, if we determine that we are likely to be classified as a "United States real property holding corporation" (see " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants " below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

        Dividends we pay to a Non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or if a tax treaty applies are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder) will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. holders. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a "branch profits tax" at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).

Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant

        The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holder's exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant held by a Non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise or lapse of a warrant by a U.S. holder, as described under " U.S. Holders—Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant " above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described below in " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants ."

Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants

        A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or warrants (including an

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expiration or redemption of our warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:

        Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate).

        If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock or warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our "U.S. real property interests" equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Redemption of Common Stock

        The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. holder's common stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under " Description of Securities—common stock " generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. holder's common stock, as described under " U.S. Holders—Redemption of Common Stock " above, and the consequences of the redemption to the Non-U.S. holder will be as described above under " Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions " and " Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock and Warrants ," as applicable.

Possible Constructive Distributions

        The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned " Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders' Warrants ." An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a Non-U.S. holder of warrants would be treated as

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receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder's proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of common stock that would be obtained upon exercise) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our common stock which is taxable to such Non-U.S. holders as described under " Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions " above. A Non-U.S. holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding under that section in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

        In general, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our units, shares of common stock and warrants. A Non-U.S. holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty will generally satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against such holder's U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

        All Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

FATCA Withholding Taxes

        Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the " Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act " or " FATCA ") generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any "substantial United States owners" or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity's "substantial United States owners," which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. All prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

        We are offering the units described in this prospectus through the underwriters named below. Cowen and Company, LLC is acting as sole book-running manager of this offering and as representative of the underwriters named below. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the representative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the number of units listed next to its name in the following table.

Underwriter
  Number of Units  

Cowen and Company, LLC

       

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC

       

Total

    20,000,000  

        The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters must buy all of the units if they buy any of them. However, the underwriters are not required to purchase the units covered by the underwriters' option to purchase additional units as described below.

        Our public units are offered hereby subject to a number of conditions, including:

        We have been advised by the representative that the underwriters intend to make a market in our public units but that they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue making a market at any time without notice.

Option to Purchase Additional Units

        We have granted the underwriters an option to buy up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 additional units. The underwriters have 45 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option. If the underwriters exercise this option, they will each purchase additional units approximately in proportion to the amounts specified in the table above.

Underwriting Discount

        Units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any units sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $             per unit from the initial public offering price. Sales of units made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters. If all the units are not sold at the initial public offering price, the representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Upon execution of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase the units at the prices and upon the terms stated therein.

        The following table shows the per unit and total underwriting discount we will pay to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units.

 
  No Exercise   Full Exercise  

Per Unit

  $ 0.20   $ 0.20  

Total

  $ 4,000,000   $ 4,600,000  

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        We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $700,000. We have agreed to pay for the FINRA-related fees and expenses of the underwriters' legal counsel, not to exceed $35,000.

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

        We have engaged the underwriters as advisors in connection with our business combination to assist us in holding meetings with our stockholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business's attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities in connection with the potential business combination, assist us in obtaining stockholder approval for the business combination and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the business combination. We will pay the underwriters a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to, in the aggregate, 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option.

Founder Shares and Private Units

        In February 2018, Cowen Investments purchased 1,449,000 founder shares. If the over-allotment option is not fully sold, Cowen Investments will forfeit up to 189,000 founder shares, such that Cowen Investments will hold 1,260,000 founder shares if the over-allotment option is not exercised. Cowen Investments (and/or its designee) has also committed to purchase from us 200,000 private units (or 220,000 private units if the underwriters' option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 (or $2,200,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised). The private units have terms and provisions that are identical to the units sold in this offering except as described under " Description of Securities—Private Units ," including that, subject to certain exceptions, the private units will not be transferable, assignable or salable until after the completion of our initial business combination and that, the warrants underlying the private units held by Cowen Investments will not be exercisable more than five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). The purchase of the private units will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Such private units and founder shares will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. Such private units and founder shares will be subject to lock-up restrictions, as required by FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1) and may not be sold during the offering, or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or commencement of sales of the offering, except as provided in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2).

No Sales of Similar Securities

        We, our executive officers and directors, and our founders will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters. Under the lock-up agreements, subject to certain exceptions, we and each of these persons may not, without the prior written approval of Cowen and Company, LLC, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or hedge our units, rights, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock. These restrictions will be in effect for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

        Cowen and Company, LLC may, at any time and in its sole discretion, release some or all the securities from these lock-up agreements. Cowen and Company, LLC will consider, among other

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factors, the holder's reasons for requesting the release, the number of securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time. If the restrictions under the lock-up agreements are waived, our units, warrants and shares of common stock may become available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price of our securities.

        Our founders, executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares or private units, or the securities underlying the private units, until one year after the completion of the Company's initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under " Principal Stockholders "). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the last reported sale price of our common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (2) if we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after our initial business combination which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, then then the shares will be released from these restrictions on transfer. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any shares.

Indemnification

        We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we have agreed to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Nasdaq Listing

        We intend to apply for listing of our units on Nasdaq under the symbol "VTIQU" and, once the units begin separate trading, we expect our common stock and warrants to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols "VTIQ" and "VTIQW", respectively.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

        In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of units during and after this offering, including:

    §
    stabilizing transactions;
    §
    short sales;
    §
    purchases to cover positions created by short sales;
    §
    imposition of penalty bids; and
    §
    syndicate covering transactions.

        Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units while this offering is in progress. Stabilization transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. These transactions may also include making short sales of our units, which involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of units than they are required to purchase in this offering and purchasing units on the open market to cover short positions created by short sales. Short sales may be "covered short sales," which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters' option to purchase additional units referred to above, or may be "naked short sales," which are short positions in excess of that amount.

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        The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing units in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option.

        Naked short sales are short sales made in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchased in this offering.

        The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased units sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

        These stabilizing transactions, short sales, purchases to cover positions created by short sales, the imposition of penalty bids and syndicate covering transactions may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units. As a result of these activities, the price of our units may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the units. Neither we, nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these stabilization transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Affiliations

        The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their affiliates may from time to time in the future engage with us and perform services for us or in the ordinary course of their business for which they will receive customary fees and expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of these securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in these securities and instruments.

        Except as described under "—Business Combination Marketing Agreement," we are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm's length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be

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paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 90 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriter's compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder's fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.

Conflicts of Interest

        Cowen Investments, which beneficially owns more than 10% of our outstanding common stock prior to the consummation of this offering, is an affiliate of Cowen and Company, LLC, an underwriter in this offering. As a result, Cowen and Company, LLC is deemed to have a "conflict of interest" within the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA.

        Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121. Rule 5121 requires that a "qualified independent underwriter," as defined in Rule 5121, participate in the preparation of the registration statement and prospectus and exercise the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC has agreed to act as a "qualified independent underwriter" for this offering. Chardan Capital Markets, LLC will not receive any additional compensation for acting as a qualified independent underwriter. We have agreed to indemnify Chardan Capital Markets, LLC against certain liabilities incurred in connection with acting as a "qualified independent underwriter," including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, no underwriter with a conflict of interest will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific prior written approval of the account holder.

Electronic Distribution

        A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of units for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter's website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter and should not be relied upon by investors.

Notice to Residents of Canada

        The units may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

        Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

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        Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

        In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "relevant member state"), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the "relevant implementation date"), an offer of units described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the relevant implementation date, an offer of our units may be made to the public in that relevant member state at any time:

    §
    to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
    §
    to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the issuer for any such offer; or
    §
    in any other circumstances that do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of units referred to in (a) to (c) above shall result in a requirement for us or any Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

        Each purchaser of units described in this prospectus located within a relevant member state will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

        For the purpose of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the units, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state.

        We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of units through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the units as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the units, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the units on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

        The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange ("SIX") or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses

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under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

        Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA"). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

        This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as a "relevant person"). The units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase or otherwise acquire such units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Notice to Prospective Investors in France

        Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or by the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units has been or will be:

    §
    released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or
    §
    used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the units to the public in France.

        Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:

    §
    to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d'investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Article L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;
    §
    to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or
    §
    in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1|Mbb[-or-2|Mbb[-or 3|Mbb[of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l'épargne).

        The units may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus is being passed upon for us by Greenberg Traurig, LLP, New York, New York. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Palo Alto, California, advised the underwriter in connection with this offering of securities.


EXPERTS

        The financial statements of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. as of March 31, 2018, and for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018 appearing in this prospectus have been audited by RSM US LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2 to the financial statements), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

        Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file (so long as we are a foreign private issuer, in certain cases voluntarily) annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements (if we will not be a foreign private issuer at such time) and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . You also may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facility at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.

        You also may obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

Index to Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    F-2  

Balance Sheet

    F-3  

Statement of Operations

    F-4  

Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

    F-5  

Statement of Cash Flows

    F-6  

Notes to Financial Statements

    F-7  

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

        We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the Company) as of March 31, 2018, the related statements of operations, stockholders' deficit and cash flows for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) to March 31, 2018, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) to March 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Emphasis of a Matter Regarding Going Concern

        The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has a net loss and working capital deficiency. This raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters also are described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

        These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

        Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ RSM US LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2018.

New York, New York
April 19, 2018

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
March 31, 2018

Assets

       

Current assets:

       

Cash

  $ 25,000  

Total current assets

    25,000  

Deferred offering costs associated with initial public offering

    179,000  

Total assets

  $ 204,000  

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

       

Current liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

  $ 89,462  

Notes Payable

    90,000  

Total current liabilities

    179,462  

Commitments and Contingencies

       

Stockholders' Equity:

   
 
 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding(1)

    575  

Additional paid-in capital

    24,425  

Accumulated deficit

    (462 )

Total stockholders' equity

    24,538  

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

  $ 204,000  

(1)
This number includes up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018

General and administrative expenses

  $ 462  

Net loss

  $ (462 )

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)

    5,000,000  

Basic and diluted net loss per share

  $ (0.00 )

(1)
This number excludes an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018

 
  Common Stock    
   
   
 
 
  Additional
Paid-in
Capital
  Accumulated
Deficit
  Total
Stockholder's
Equity
 
 
  Shares   Amount  

Balance—January 23, 2018 (inception)

      $   $   $   $  

Issuance of common stock(1)

    5,750,000     575   $ 24,425         25,000  

Net loss

                (462 )   (462 )

Balance—March 31, 2018

    5,750,000   $ 575   $ 24,425   $ (462 ) $ 24,538  

(1)
This number includes up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018

 
   
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

       

Net loss

  $ (462 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

    462  

Net cash used in operating activities

     

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

       

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

    25,000  

Proceeds from Notes Payable

    90,000  

Deferred Offering Cost

    (90,000 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    25,000  

Net increase in cash

    25,000  

Cash—beginning of the period

   
 

Cash—end of the period

  $ 25,000  

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

       

Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable

  $ 89,000  

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1—Description of Organization and Business Operations

        VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP. (the "Company") was incorporated in Delaware on January 23, 2018. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the "Business Combination"). Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus its search on the industrial technology, transportation and smart mobility industries, which the Company believes will provide it with access to attractive business combination opportunities in these industries. The Company is an emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.

        As of March 31, 2018, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) through March 31, 2018 relates to the Company's formation and the Proposed Public Offering described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

        The Company's sponsor is VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Sponsor"). The Company's ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering (the "Proposed Public Offering") of 20,000,000 units (each, a "Unit" and collectively, the "Units") at $10.00 per Unit (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 600,000 units (or 660,000 units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) (each, a "Private Placement Unit" and collectively, the "Private Placement Unit") at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement to the Sponsor and Cowen Investments, LLC (collectively with the Sponsor, the "Founders") and certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (collectively, the "Anchor Investor") that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering.

        The Company's management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete its initial Business Combination with one or more target businesses having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an amount equal to at least $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds of the Private Placement Units, will be held in a trust account ("Trust Account"), located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1—Description of Organization and Business Operations (Continued)

Company acting as trustee, and invested only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.

        The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001, sold in the Proposed Public Offering (the "public stockholders") with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares (as defined below in Note 3) upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares (as defined below in Note 3) for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share). These Public Shares will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 480 "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity." In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if a stockholder vote is held to approve such transaction, only if a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation"), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the initial stockholders (as defined below) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined below in Note 4) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination or any amendment to the provisions of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to its pre-initial business combination activity and related stockholders' rights.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will provide that 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 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), will be restricted from

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 1—Description of Organization and Business Operations (Continued)

redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the common stock sold in the Proposed Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.

        The Company's Founders, officers and directors (the "initial stockholders") have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company's obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination, unless the Company provides the public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock in conjunction with any such amendment.

        If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering (the "Combination Period"), 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 business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, which interest shall be net of taxes payable by the Company), 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 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 the requirements of other applicable law.

        The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the initial stockholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account (or potentially less in certain circumstances). In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company's indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

        The Company has a net loss and a working capital deficiency and does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations over the next year from the issuance of these financial statements. This raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company plans to address this uncertainty through the Proposed Public Offering. There is no assurance that the Company's plans to raise capital or to complete a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the target business acquisition period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Emerging Growth Company

        Section 102(b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act") exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised, and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.

        This may make comparison of the Company's financial statement with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Net Loss Per Common Share

        The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, "Earnings Per Share." Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding common stock subject to forfeiture by the initial shareholders. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 750,000 common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 4). At March 31, 2018, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Concentration of Credit Risk

        Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. At March 31, 2018, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.

Financial Instruments

        The fair value of the Company's assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the FASB ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet.

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Deferred Offering Costs

        Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholders' equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.

Income Taxes

        The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, "Income Taxes." Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

        FASB ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2018. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties for the period from January 23, 2018 (inception) to March 31, 2018. The Company is

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        The Company's management does not believe that there are any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

Note 3—Public Offering

        Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale 20,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock (such shares of common stock included in the Units being offered, the "Public Shares"), and 3 / 4 of one redeemable warrant (each, a "Public Warrant"). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. Only whole Public Warrants are exercisable. The Public Warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of the Company's completion of an initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

        No Public Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within 90 days from the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement or a current prospectus, exercise Public Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis.

        The Private Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Proposed Public Offering, except that the Private Warrants and the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or such purchasers' permitted transferees and Private Warrants held by Cowen Investments LLC will not be exercisable more than five years after the effective date of the registration statement related to the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). If the Private Warrants are held by someone other than the initial shareholders or their permitted transferees, the Private Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 3—Public Offering (Continued)

        The Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption:

        If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a "cashless basis," as described in the warrant agreement.

        The exercise price and number of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuance of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrant shares. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company's assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

Note 4—Related Party Transactions

Founder Shares

        On February 15, 2018, the Founders purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares (the "Founder Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. The Sponsor and Cowen Investments purchased 4,301,000 and 1,449,000 of the Founder Shares, respectively. In March 2018, the Sponsor transferred 15,000 Founder Shares to each of its initial director nominees. In April 2018, the sponsor forfeited 435,606 Founder Shares and the anchor investor purchased 435,606 Founder Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894, or approximately $0.004 per share. The Founders and anchor investor have agreed to forfeit up to an aggregate of 750,000 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option in the Proposed Public Offering is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20.0% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding any shares underlying the Private Placement Units). If the Company increases or decreases the size of the offering, the Company will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the Founder Share ownership of the Company's stockholders prior to the Proposed Public Offering at 20.0% of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering (excluding any shares underlying the Private Placement Units).

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 4—Related Party Transactions (Continued)

        The initial stockholders will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange 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.

Private Placement Units

        The Founders and anchor investor will agree to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 Private Placement Units (or 660,000 Private Placement Units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit ($6.0 million in the aggregate, or $6.6 million if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one share of common stock (such shares of common stock included in the Private Placement Units, the "Private Shares"), and 3 / 4 of one redeemable warrant (each, a "Private Warrant"). Each Private Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6). Proceeds from the Private Placement Units will be added to proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units held in trust will be part of the liquidating distribution to the public stockholders, and the Private Warrants will expire worthless. The Private Warrants will be non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Founders or their permitted transferees.

        The Founders and the Company's officers and directors will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Units or the securities underlying the Private Placement Units until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the common stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange 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.

        A fund affiliated with P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, which is referred to as the "forward purchase investor," is a member of the Sponsor and has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with the Company which provides for the purchase by the forward purchase investor of 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of the Company's redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. These shares and warrants will be purchased in a private placement to close simultaneously with the

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 4—Related Party Transactions (Continued)

consummation of the Company's initial business combination. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

Related Party Loans

        On March 1, 2018, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $100,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note. Also, on March 1, 2018, Cowen Investments, LLC agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $100,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a second promissory note on the same terms as the loan provided by the Sponsor. These loans are non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of June 30, 2018 or the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. To date, the Company has borrowed $90,000 under the promissory notes.

        In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company's officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required ("Working Capital Loans"). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender's discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into additional units of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. The securities would be identical to the Private Placement Units. To date, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

Administrative Support Agreement

        The Company intends to enter into an agreement, commencing on the effective the Proposed Public Offering through the earlier of the Company's consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space and general administrative services.

        The Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company's behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company's audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to the Sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on the Company's behalf.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 5—Commitments & Contingencies

Registration Rights

        The Founders, anchor investor, and the Company's executive officers, directors and director nominees and their permitted transferees will be entitled to demand that the Company register for resale the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Units and underlying securities and any securities issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans. The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company's consummation of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cowen Investments may not exercise its demand and "piggyback" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

Underwriting Agreement

        The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option from the final prospectus relating to the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

        The underwriters will be entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $4.0 million in the aggregate (or $4.6 million in the aggregate if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering.

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

        The Company intends to engage the underwriters as advisors in connection with its Business Combination pursuant to a business combination marketing agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, the Company will pay such advisors a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of an initial Business Combination in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, including any proceeds from the full or partial exercise of the over-allotment option.

Note 6—Stockholders' Equity

        Common Stock —The Company is currently authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of March 31, 2018, there were 5,750,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Of the 5,750,000 shares of common stock, an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares are subject to forfeiture to the Company by the Sponsor, Cowen Investments, LLC and anchor investor for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters' over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding shares underlying the Private Placement Units).

        Preferred Stock —The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company's board of directors. As of March 31, 2018, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

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VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 7—Subsequent Events

        The Company has evaluated events for possible recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through April 19, 2018, the date the financial statements are available to be issued.

        On April 19, 2018, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. (collectively, the "Anchor Investor") and the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Anchor Investor purchased 435,606 Founder Shares from the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $1,894 and agreed to purchase 50,000 Private Placement Units, for an aggregate purchase price of $500,000, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the Anchor Investor agreed that if it does not own the number of Public Shares equal to 2,500,000 Public Shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in the Proposed Public Offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial Business Combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of its 435,606 Founder Shares on a pro rata basis. In such a case, the Sponsor (or its designee) will have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or a portion of the Private Placement Units held by the Anchor Investor at their original purchase price.

        The Anchor Investor has expressed to the Company an interest to purchase $25 million of public units in the Proposed Public Offering, and the Company has agreed to direct the underwriters to sell to the Anchor Investor such number of public units. Further, the Anchor Investor has agreed with the Company that, if it does not own the number of public shares equal to 2,500,000 public shares (which amount will be reduced on a pro rata basis if less than 20,000,000 units are sold in the Proposed Public Offering), at the time of any stockholder vote with respect to an initial business combination or the business day immediately prior to the consummation of the Company's initial business combination, it will forfeit all or a portion of the 435,606 founder shares it purchased prior to the Proposed Public Offering on a pro rata basis.

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        Until                           , 2018 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

        No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.

20,000,000 Units

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.


PROSPECTUS


Joint Book-Running Managers

Cowen   Chardan

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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

        The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:

SEC Registration Fees

  $ 28,635  

FINRA Filing Fees

  $ 35,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

  $ 49,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

  $ 40,000  

Nasdaq listing expenses

  $ 75,000  

D&O insurance

  $ 125,000  

Legal fees and expenses

  $ 300,000  

Miscellaneous(1)

  $ 47,365  

Total

  $ 700,000  

(1)
This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by the Company in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including transfer agent and trustee fees.

Item 14.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL").

        Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.

        Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.

    (a)
    A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was unlawful.

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    (b)
    A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
    (c)
    To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
    (d)
    Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
    (e)
    Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
    (f)
    The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect

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      at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

    (g)
    A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
    (h)
    For purposes of this section, references to "the corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
    (i)
    For purposes of this section, references to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" as referred to in this section.
    (j)
    The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
    (k)
    The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation's obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys' fees).

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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        In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders' derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director's duty of care.

        If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney's fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our Board of Directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.

        The right to indemnification conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

        The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

        Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective

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only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will 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 with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

        Our bylaws, which we intend to adopt immediately prior to the closing of this offering, include provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

        Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our Board of Directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

        We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this registration statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

        Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

Item 15.    Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

        On February 15, 2018, our founders and/or their respective designees purchased from us, prior to the consummation of this offering, an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock, or "founder shares", for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, in a private placement. Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

        In addition, our founders and anchor investor have committed to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 private units (or 660,000 private units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit in a private placement that will close simultaneously with this offering. Among the private units, 350,000 units (or 390,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be purchased by our Sponsor and/or its designees, 50,000 units will be purchased by our anchor investor and/or its designees, and 200,000 units (or 220,000 units if the over-allotment option is

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exercised in full) will be purchased by Cowen Investments and/or its designees. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

        An institutional investor, which holds an ownership interest in our Sponsor and which we refer to as our "forward purchase investor," has entered into a contingent forward purchase agreement with us which provides for the purchase by the forward purchase investor of up to 2,500,000 forward purchase shares, plus three-fourths of one of our redeemable warrants for each forward purchase share, for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000. These shares and warrants will be purchased in a private placement to close simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

        Each of our founders and our executive officers and director nominees is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.

Item 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

        (a)   The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:

Exhibit No.   Description
  1.1 ** Form of Underwriting Agreement

 

1.2

**

Form of Business Combination Marketing Agreement

 

3.1

*

Certificate of Incorporation

 

3.2

**

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

3.3

*

Bylaws

 

4.1

**

Specimen Unit Certificate

 

4.2

**

Specimen common stock Certificate

 

4.3

**

Specimen Warrant Certificate

 

4.4

**

Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company and the Company

 

5.1

**

Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, LLP

 

10.1

**

Form of Letter Agreement among the Company, and each of the sponsor, Cowen Investments, and each of the executive officers, directors and director nominees of the Company

 

10.2

**

Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company and the Company

 

10.3

*

Founder Shares Subscription Agreement, dated February 14, 2018, between the Company and sponsor

 

10.4

*

Founder Shares Subscription Agreement, dated February 14, 2018, between the Company and Cowen Investments LLC

 

10.5

**

Unit Purchase Agreement between the Company and sponsor

 

10.6

**

Unit Purchase Agreement between the Company and Cowen Investments LLC

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Exhibit No.   Description
  10.7 ** Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and securityholders

 

10.8

**

Form of Indemnity Agreement

 

10.9

**

Promissory Note issued in favor of sponsor, dated March 1, 2018

 

10.10

**

Promissory Note issued in favor of Cowen Investments, dated March 1, 2018

 

10.11

**

Form of Administrative Services Agreement

 

10.12

*

Forward Purchase Agreement, dated April 18, 2018, between the Company and the forward purchase investor

 

10.13

*

Securities Assignment Agreement, dated March 28, 2018, among the sponsor and director nominees of the Company

 

10.14

*

Form of Subscription Agreement between the Company, the sponsor and the anchor investors

 

14

**

Form of Code of Ethics

 

23.1

*

Consent of RSM US LLP

 

23.2

**

Consent of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (to be included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

24

*

Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Registration Statement)

 

99.1

**

Audit Committee Charter

 

99.2

**

Compensation Committee Charter

 

99.3

*

Consent of Robert Gendelman

 

99.4

*

Consent of Sarah Hallac

 

99.5

*

Consent of Richard Lynch

 

99.6

*

Consent of Victoria McInnis

*
Filed herewith.
**
To be filed by amendment.

Item 17.    Undertakings.

        (a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

        (b)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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        (c)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

    (1)
    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

    (i)
    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
    (ii)
    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
    (iii)
    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

    (2)
    For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
    (3)
    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
    (4)
    For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
    (5)
    For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
    (6)
    For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of

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      the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

      (i)
      Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
      (ii)
      Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
      (iii)
      The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
      (iv)
      Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mamaroneck, State of New York, on the 19th day of April, 2018.

    VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ STEPHEN GIRSKY

        Name:   Stephen Girsky
        Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen Girsky and Steve Shindler his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including pre- and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ STEPHEN GIRSKY

Stephen Girsky
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal executive officer)   April 19, 2018

/s/ STEVE SHINDLER

Steve Shindler

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal financial and accounting officer)

 

April 19, 2018

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Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

THE UNDERSIGNED, acting as the incorporator of a corporation under and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time (the “DGCL”), hereby adopts the following Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) for such corporation:

 

ARTICLE I
NAME

 

The name of the corporation is VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTERED AGENT

 

The street address of the initial registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s initial registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE

 

The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

 

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 101,000,000 shares, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).  The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the respective classes of the Corporation’s capital stock or the holders thereof and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:

 

Section 4.2                                     Preferred Stock .

 

(a)                                  The Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series from time to time, with each such series to consist of such number of shares and to have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series

 



 

adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and included in a certificate of designations (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority, to the full extent now or hereafter provided by law, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.

 

(b)                                  The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders of Preferred Stock is required pursuant to another provision of this Certificate, including any Preferred Stock Designation.

 

Section 4.3                                     Common Stock .

 

(a)                                  The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote.  Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders the Common Stock 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 Certificate (including a Preferred Stock Designation), holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation.)

 

(b)                                  Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, 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.

 

(c)                                   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, and subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock in respect thereof, 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 Common Stock held by them.

 

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ARTICLE V
INCORPORATOR

 

The name and mailing address of the incorporator is as follows:

 

Name

 

Address

 

 

 

Jason Simon

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1000
McLean, VA 22102

 

ARTICLE VI
DIRECTORS

 

Section 6.1                                     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 Certificate or the By Laws (the “By Laws”) of the Corporation, 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 Certificate and any By Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By Laws had not been adopted.

 

Section 6.2                                     Election .  Unless and except to the extent that the By Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.

 

ARTICLE VII
BY LAWS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws.  The By Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders.

 

ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1                                     Limitation of Personal Liability .  No person who is or was a director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of 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 by the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended.  If the DGCL is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, then the liability of a director to the Corporation or its stockholders shall be limited or eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.  Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.1 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.1 will, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors) and shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the

 

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Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

Section 8.2                                     Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  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 (hereinafter a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or, while a director or officer, employee or agent 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 or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter a “Covered Person”), 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, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person 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; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.  The right to indemnification conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition.

 

(b)                                  The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights which any Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Certificate, the By Laws, 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 Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2 , will, 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 basis than permitted prior thereto), and will 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 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 Covered Persons.

 

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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate and the DGCL; and except as set forth in ARTICLE VIII , all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the incorporator of the Corporation hereto has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be duly executed as of January 23, 2018.

 

 

By:

/s/ Jason Simon

 

 

Name:

Jason Simon

 

 

Title:

Incorporator

 

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Exhibit 3.3

 

BY LAWS
OF
VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

(THE “CORPORATION”)

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1.1.                                 Registered Office .  The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be located at either (a) the principal place of business of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or (b) the office of the corporation or individual acting as the Corporation’s registered agent in Delaware.

 

Section 1.2.                                 Additional Offices .  The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

 

STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

 

Section 2.1.                                 Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a) .  At each annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect those directors of the Corporation to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of such annual meeting and may transact any other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

Section 2.2.                                 Special Meetings .  Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and may not be called by any other person.  Special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a) .

 

Section 2.3.                                 Notices .  Written notice of each stockholders meeting stating the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given in the manner permitted by Section 9.3 to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat

 

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as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, by the Corporation not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”).  If said notice is for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it shall in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the business transacted at such meeting shall be limited to the matters so stated in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).  Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board upon public announcement (as defined in Section 2.7(c) ) given before the date previously scheduled for such meeting.

 

Section 2.4.                                 Quorum .  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) or these By Laws, the presence, in person or by proxy, at a stockholders meeting of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business.  If a quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.6 until a quorum shall attend.  The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.  Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any such other corporation to vote shares held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

Section 2.5.                                 Voting of Shares .

 

(a)                                  Voting Lists .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Nothing contained in this Section 2.5(a)  shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  In the event that the Corporation

 

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determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.  If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be examined by any stockholder who is present.  If a meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of remote communication as permitted by Section 9.5(a) , the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of meeting.  The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5(a)  or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

(b)                                  Manner of Voting .  At any stockholders meeting, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy.  If authorized by the Board, the voting by stockholders or proxy holders at any meeting conducted by remote communication may be effected by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 9.3 ), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the Corporation can determine that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder.  The Board, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in such person’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

(c)                                   Proxies .  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority.

 

(i)                                      A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy.  Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.

 

(ii)                                   A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

 

Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for

 

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which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

(d)                                  Required Vote .  Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”), voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon.  All other matters presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By Laws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.

 

(e)                                   Inspectors of Election .  The Board may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof.  The Board may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots.  No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.  Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting.  If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.

 

Section 2.6.                                 Adjournments .  Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place.  Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting the stockholders, or the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board

 

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shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 9.2 , and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 2.7.                                 Advance Notice for Business.

 

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Stockholders .  No business (other than nominations of individual(s) for election to the Board) may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.7(a)  and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a) .  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.7(a)  to the contrary, only persons nominated for election as a director to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of the annual meeting pursuant to Section 3.2 will be considered for election at such meeting.

 

(i)                                      In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business (other than nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action.  Subject to Section 2.7(a)(iii) , a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to such business, to be timely, must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Corporation.  The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.7(a) .

 

(ii)                                   To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to any business (other than nominations) must set forth as to each such matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event such business includes a proposal to amend these By Laws, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and record address of such stockholder and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and by the beneficial owner, if

 

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any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, (E) any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business and (F) a representation that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting.

 

(iii)                                The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.7(a)  shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder as to any proposal (other than nominations) if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of such stockholder’s intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and such stockholder has complied with the requirements of such Rule for inclusion of such proposal in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.  No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a) , provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.7(a)  shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business.  If the Board or the chairman of the annual meeting determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.7(a)  or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 2.7(a) , such proposal shall not be presented for action at the annual meeting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7(a) , if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.

 

(iv)                               In addition to the provisions of this Section 2.7(a) , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein.  Nothing in this Section 2.7(a)  shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

(b)                                  Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting only pursuant to Section 3.2 .

 

(c)                                   Public Announcement .  For purposes of these By Laws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor thereto).

 

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Section 2.8.                                 Conduct of Meetings .  The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board.  The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with these By Laws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.  The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairman of the meeting.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.9.                                 Consents in Lieu of Meeting .  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, until the corporation consummates an initial public offering (“ Offering ”), any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding 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 entitled to vote thereon 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 an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings 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.

 

Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this section and the DGCL to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book

 

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in which proceedings of meetings 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.

 

ARTICLE III

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1.                                 Powers .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.  Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.2.                                 Advance Notice for Nomination of Directors .

 

(a)                                  Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting, may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 3.2 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.2 .

 

(b)                                  In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Corporation; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting is first made by the Corporation.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 3.2 .

 

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(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is greater than the number of directors whose terms expire on the date of the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for the additional directors to be elected or specifying the size of the increased Board before the close of business on the 100th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3.2 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships created by such increase that are to be filled by election at such annual meeting, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such public announcement was first made by the Corporation.

 

(d)                                  To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, if any, that are owned beneficially or of record by the person, (D) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, without regard to the application of the Exchange Act to either the nomination or the Corporation; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and record address of such stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (C) a description of all arrangements or understandings relating to the nomination to be made by such stockholder among such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names), (D) a representation that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice and (E) any other information relating to such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.

 

(e)                                   If the Board or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2 or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 3.2 , then such nomination shall not be considered at the meeting in question.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2 , if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.

 

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(f)                                    In addition to the provisions of this Section 3.2 , a stockholder shall also comply with all of the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein.  Nothing in this Section 3.2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.3.                                 Compensation .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors, including for service on a committee of the Board.  The directors may be reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board.  No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of committees of the Board may be allowed like reimbursement of expenses for service on the committee.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

BOARD MEETINGS

 

Section 4.1.                                 Annual Meetings .  The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board.  No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 4.1 .

 

Section 4.2.                                 Regular Meetings .  Regularly scheduled, periodic meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times, dates and places (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

 

Section 4.3.                                 Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board (a) may be called by the Chairman of the Board or President and (b) shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of at least a majority of directors then in office, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request.  Notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be given, as provided in Section 9.3 , to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail.  If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the directors who requested the meeting.  Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board may be transacted at a special meeting.  Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By Laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

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Section 4.4.                                 Quorum; Required Vote .  A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

Section 4.5.                                 Consent In Lieu of Meeting .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 4.6.                                 Organization .  The chairman of each meeting of the Board shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, a chairman elected from the directors present.  The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary at such meeting.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

ARTICLE V

 

COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 5.1.                                 Establishment .  The Board may by resolution of the Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required by the resolution designating such committee.  The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.

 

Section 5.2.                                 Available Powers .  Any committee established pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law and by resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it.

 

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Section 5.3.                                 Alternate Members .  The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

Section 5.4.                                 Procedures .  Unless the Board otherwise provides, the time, date, place, if any, and notice of meetings of a committee shall be determined by such committee.  At meetings of a committee, a majority of the number of members of the committee (but not including any alternate member, unless such alternate member has replaced any absent or disqualified member at the time of, or in connection with, such meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By Laws or the Board.  If a quorum is not present at a meeting of a committee, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.  Unless the Board otherwise provides and except as provided in these By Laws, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business.  In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board is authorized to conduct its business pursuant to Article IV of these By Laws.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 6.1.                                 Officers .  The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers (including without limitation, Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries) as the Board from time to time may determine.  Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VI .  Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board.  The Chief Executive Officer or President may also appoint such other officers (including without limitation one or more Vice Presidents and Controllers) as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation.  Such other officers shall have such powers and duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be provided in these By Laws or as may be prescribed by the Board or, if such officer has been appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as may be prescribed by the appointing officer.

 

(a)                                  Chairman of the Board .  The Chairman of the Board shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board.  The Chairman of the Board shall have general supervision and control of the acquisition activities of the Corporation subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board.  The powers and duties of the Chairman of the

 

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Board shall not include supervision or control of the preparation of the financial statements of the Company (other than through participation as a member of the Board).  The position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person.

 

(b)                                  Chief Executive Officer .  The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters, except to the extent any such powers and duties have been prescribed to the Chairman of the Board pursuant to Section 6.1(a)  above.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board.  The position of Chief Executive Officer and President may be held by the same person.

 

(c)                                   President .  The President shall make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer on all operational matters that would normally be reserved for the final executive responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board.  The President shall also perform such duties and have such powers as shall be designated by the Board.  The position of President and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person.

 

(d)                                  Vice Presidents .  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Board) shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President.  Any one or more of the Vice Presidents may be given an additional designation of rank or function.

 

(e)                                   Chief Financial Officer .  The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties commonly incident to that office (including, without limitation, the care and custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, which from time to time may come into the Chief Financial Officer’s hands and the deposit of the funds of the Corporation in such banks or trust companies as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may authorize).

 

(f)                                    Treasurer .  The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and the directors, at the regular meetings of the Board, or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

 

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(g)                                   Secretary .

 

(i)                                      The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders, the Board and (as required) committees of the Board and shall record the proceedings of such meetings in books to be kept for that purpose.  The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President.  The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and the Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary.  The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof by his or her signature.

 

(ii)                                   The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, if one has been appointed, a stock ledger, or duplicate stock ledger, showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each and, with respect to certificated shares, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of certificates cancelled.

 

(h)                                  Assistant Secretaries .  The Assistant Secretary or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, perform the duties and have the powers of the Secretary.

 

Section 6.2.                                 Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies .  The elected officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office.  Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board.  Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may also be removed, with or without cause, by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be, unless the Board otherwise provides.  Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board.  Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer, or President, as the case may be, unless the Board then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board, in which case the Board shall elect such officer.

 

Section 6.3.                                 Multiple Officeholders; Stockholder and Director Officers .  Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws otherwise provide.  Officers need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

SHARES

 

Section 7.1.                                 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares .  The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, subject to the sole discretion of the Board and the requirements of the DGCL.

 

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Section 7.2.                                 Multiple Classes of Stock .  If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.

 

Section 7.3.                                 Signatures .  Each certificate representing capital stock of the Corporation shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (a) the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.  Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue.

 

Section 7.4.                                 Consideration and Payment for Shares .

 

(a)                                  Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having in the case of shares with par value a value not less than the par value thereof, and to such persons, as determined from time to time by the Board.  The consideration may consist of cash, tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation or any combination thereof.

 

(b)                                  Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid, unless upon the face or back of each certificate issued to represent any partly paid shares of capital stock or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of partly paid uncertificated shares, there shall have been set forth the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon up to and including the time said certificate representing certificated shares or said uncertificated shares are issued.

 

Section 7.5.                                 Lost, Destroyed or Wrongfully Taken Certificates .

 

(a)                                  If an owner of a certificate representing shares claims that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form if the owner: (i) requests such a

 

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new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate representing such shares has been acquired by a protected purchaser; (ii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, wrongful taking or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares; and (iii) satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  If a certificate representing shares has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the Corporation of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of such loss, apparent destruction or wrongful taking and the Corporation registers a transfer of such shares before receiving notification, the owner shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation any claim for registering such transfer or a claim to a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form.

 

Section 7.6.                                 Transfer of Stock .

 

(a)                                  If a certificate representing shares of the Corporation is presented to the Corporation with an endorsement requesting the registration of transfer of such shares or an instruction is presented to the Corporation requesting the registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall register the transfer as requested if:

 

(i)                                      in the case of certificated shares, the certificate representing such shares has been surrendered;

 

(ii)                                   (A) with respect to certificated shares, the endorsement is made by the person specified by the certificate as entitled to such shares; (B) with respect to uncertificated shares, an instruction is made by the registered owner of such uncertificated shares; or (C) with respect to certificated shares or uncertificated shares, the endorsement or instruction is made by any other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person;

 

(iii)                                the Corporation has received a guarantee of signature of the person signing such endorsement or instruction or such other reasonable assurance that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized as the Corporation may request;

 

(iv)                               the transfer does not violate any restriction on transfer imposed by the Corporation that is enforceable in accordance with Section 7.8(a) ; and

 

(v)                                  such other conditions for such transfer as shall be provided for under applicable law have been satisfied.

 

(b)                                  Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, the Corporation shall so record such fact in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate for such shares is presented to the Corporation for transfer or, if such shares are uncertificated, when the instruction for registration of transfer thereof is presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

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Section 7.7.                                 Registered Stockholders .  Before due presentment for registration of transfer of a certificate representing shares of the Corporation or of an instruction requesting registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to inspect for any proper purpose the stock ledger and the other books and records of the Corporation, vote such shares, receive dividends or notifications with respect to such shares and otherwise exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of such shares, except that a person who is the beneficial owner of such shares (if held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person) may, upon providing documentary evidence of beneficial ownership of such shares and satisfying such other conditions as are provided under applicable law, may also so inspect the books and records of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.8.                                 Effect of the Corporation’s Restriction on Transfer .

 

(a)                                  A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in a notice sent pursuant to Section 7.2 , may be enforced against the holder of such shares or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder.

 

(b)                                  A restriction imposed by the Corporation on the transfer or the registration of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, even if otherwise lawful, is ineffective against a person without actual knowledge of such restriction unless: (i) the shares are certificated and such restriction is noted conspicuously on the certificate; or (ii) the shares are uncertificated and such restriction was contained in a notice sent pursuant to Section 7.2 .

 

Section 7.9.                                 Regulations.   The Board shall have power and authority to make such additional rules and regulations, subject to any applicable requirement of law, as the Board may deem necessary and appropriate with respect to the issue, transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock or certificates representing shares.  The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars and may require for the validity thereof that certificates representing shares bear the signature of any transfer agent or registrar so appointed.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1.                                 Right to Indemnification .  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 was or is 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 (hereinafter 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

 

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or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter 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; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify 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.

 

Section 8.2.                                 Right to Advancement of Expenses .  In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1 , an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon the Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ undertaking ”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.

 

Section 8.3.                                 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit .  If a claim under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim.  If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit.  In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “ final adjudication ”) that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit.

 

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In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

Section 8.4.                                 Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By Laws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

Section 8.5.                                 Insurance .  The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

Section 8.6.                                 Indemnification of Other Persons .  This Article VIII 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.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation and to any other person who 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 or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VIII .

 

Section 8.7.                                 Amendments .  Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these By Laws inconsistent with this Article VIII , will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 65% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.8.                                 Certain Definitions .  For purposes of this Article VIII , (a) references to “other enterprise” shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan

 

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shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.

 

Section 8.9.                                 Contract Rights .  The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 8.10.                          Severability .  If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1.                                 Place of Meetings .  If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these By Laws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof, then such meeting shall not be held at any place.

 

Section 9.2.                                 Fixing Record Dates.

 

(a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2(a)  at the adjourned meeting.

 

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(b)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 9.3.                                 Means of Giving Notice .

 

(a)                                  Notice to Directors .  Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone.  A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Electronic Transmission .  “ Electronic transmission ” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

(c)                                   Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address .  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given.  A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation.  Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

 

(d)                                  Exceptions to Notice Requirements .  Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and

 

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there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person.  Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.  In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

 

Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required.  Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.  If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholder’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated.  In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230 (b) of the DGCL.  The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.

 

Section 9.4.                                 Waiver of Notice .  Whenever any notice is required to be given under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By Laws, a written waiver of such notice, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such required notice.  Attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 9.5.                                 Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication Equipment.

 

(a)                                  Stockholder Meetings .  If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

 

(i)                                      participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

 

(ii)                                   be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote

 

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communication, provided that (A) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such votes or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Board Meetings .  Unless otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.  Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 9.6.                                 Dividends .  The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 9.7.                                 Reserves .  The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 9.8.                                 Contracts and Negotiable Instruments .  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine.  The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation.  Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.

 

Section 9.9.                                 Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board.

 

Section 9.10.                          Seal .  The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.

 

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Section 9.11.                          Books and Records .  The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

 

Section 9.12.                          Resignation .  Any director, committee member or officer may resign by giving notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary.  The resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events.  Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 9.13.                          Surety Bonds .  Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may determine.  The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.

 

Section 9.14.                          Securities of Other Corporations .  Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, or any officers authorized by the Board.  Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed.  The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

Section 9.15.                          Amendments .  The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws.  The By Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting (except as otherwise provided in Section 8.7 ) power of all 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 to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws.

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

1354 Flagler Drive

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

February 14, 2018

 

VectoIQ Holdings, LLC

1354 Flagler Drive

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

RE:  Subscription Agreement for Founder Shares

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are pleased to accept the offer Cowen Investments, LLC (the “ Subscriber ” or “ you ”) has made to purchase 4,301,000 shares (“ Founder Shares ”) of the common stock, $.0001 par value per share (“ Common Stock ”), of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), up to 561,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by you if the underwriters of the proposed initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of the Company pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-1 expected to be filed by the Company in connection with the IPO (the “ Registration Statement ”) do not fully exercise their over-allotment option (the “ Over-allotment Option ”) as described below. The terms (this “ Agreement ”) on which the Company is willing to sell the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, and the Company and the Subscriber’s agreements regarding such Founder Shares, are as follows:

 

1.   Purchase of Founder Shares . For the sum of $18,700.00 (the “ Purchase Price ”), which the Company acknowledges receiving in cash, the Company hereby sells and issues the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, and the Subscriber hereby purchases the Founder Shares from the Company, subject to the forfeiture provisions of Section 3 below, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. Concurrently with the Subscriber’s execution of this Agreement, the Company shall, at its option, deliver to the Subscriber a certificate registered in the Subscriber’s name representing the Founder Shares, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

2.   Representations, Warranties and Agreements .

 

2.1.   The Subscriber’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements . To induce the Company to issue the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, the Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to the Company and agrees with the Company as follows:

 

2.1.1.   No Government Recommendation or Approval . The Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the offering of the Founder Shares.

 

2.1.2.   No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the formation and governing documents of the Subscriber, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Subscriber is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber is subject.

 

2.1.3.   Organization and Authority . The Subscriber is a Delaware limited liability company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery by you, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Subscriber, enforceable against the Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

2.1.4.   Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability . The Subscriber is: (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Founder Shares and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Founder Shares for an indefinite period of time because the Founder Shares

 

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have not been registered under the Securities Act (as defined below) and therefore cannot be resold unless such transaction is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Subscriber is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. The Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Founder Shares are sold pursuant to: (x) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (y) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. The Subscriber is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Founder Shares and to afford a complete loss of the Subscriber’s investment in the Founder Shares.

 

2.1.5.   Access to Information; Independent Investigation . Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Subscriber has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, the Subscriber has relied solely on the Subscriber’s own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon the Subscriber’s own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. The Subscriber understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and the Subscriber has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations or its prospects.

 

2.1.6.   Regulation D Offering . The Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and acknowledges the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption applicable to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under federal and state law.

 

2.1.7.   Investment Purposes . The Subscriber is purchasing the Founder Shares solely for investment purposes, for the Subscriber’s own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof. The Subscriber did not enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

2.1.8.   Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company . The Subscriber understands the Founder Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Subscriber understands the Founder Shares will be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act and the Subscriber understands that any certificate or book entries representing the Founder Shares will contain a legend in respect of such restrictions. If in the future the Subscriber decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Founder Shares, such Founder Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 hereof. The Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Founder Shares or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, the Subscriber may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, the Subscriber agrees not to resell the Founder Shares. The Subscriber further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to the Subscriber for the resale of the Founder Shares until at least one year following consummation of the initial business combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the certain requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.

 

2.1.9.   No Governmental Consents . No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate on the part of the Subscriber in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

2.2.   Company’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements . To induce the Subscriber to purchase the Founder Shares, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Subscriber and agrees with the Subscriber as follows:

 

2.2.1.   Organization and Corporate Power . The Company is a Delaware corporation and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material

 

2



 

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.

 

2.2.2.   No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.

 

2.2.3.   Title to Securities . Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Founder Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof the Subscriber will have or receive good title to the Founder Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (a) transfer restrictions hereunder and other agreements to which the Founder Shares may be subject which have been notified to the Subscriber in writing, (b) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (c) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Subscriber.

 

2.2.4.   No Adverse Actions . There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending, threatened against or affecting the Company which: (i) seek to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) question the validity or legality of any transactions or seek to recover damages or to obtain other relief in connection with any transactions.

 

3.   Forfeiture of Founder Shares .

 

3.1.  Partial or No Exercise of the Over-allotment Option . In the event the Over-allotment Option granted to the underwriters of the IPO is not exercised in full, the Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it (and, if applicable, any transferee of Shares) shall automatically forfeit at the time such Over-allotment Option expires (or earlier if the underwriters of the IPO waive their ability to exercise such Over-allotment Option) any and all rights to such number of Founder Shares (up to an aggregate of 561,000 Founder Shares and pro rata based upon the percentage of the Over-allotment Option exercised) such that immediately following such forfeiture, the Subscriber (and any such transferees), collectively with all other initial stockholders of the Company prior to the IPO, will own an aggregate number of Founder Shares equal to 25% of the total number of shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO.

 

3.2.   Termination of Rights as Stockholder . If any of the Founder Shares are forfeited in accordance with this Section 3, then after such time the Subscriber (or its successor in interest), shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such forfeited Founder Shares, and the Company shall take such action as is appropriate to cancel such forfeited Founder Shares.

 

3.3.   Share Certificates . In the event an adjustment to any certificate representing the Founder Shares purchased pursuant hereto is required pursuant to this Section 3, then the Subscriber shall return such certificate to the Company or its designated agent as soon as practicable upon its receipt of notice from the Company advising the Subscriber of such adjustment, following which a new certificate shall be issued in such amount representing the adjusted number of Founder Shares held by the Subscriber. Such new certificate, if any, shall be returned to the Subscriber as soon as practicable. Any such adjustment for any uncertificated securities held by the Subscriber shall be made in book-entry form.

 

4.   Waiver of Liquidation Distributions; Redemption Rights . In connection with the Founder Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions by the Company from the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the IPO will be deposited (the “ Trust Account ”), in the event of a liquidation of the Company upon the Company’s failure to timely complete an initial business combination. For purposes of clarity, in the event the Subscriber purchases securities in the IPO or securities of the Company issued in the IPO in the aftermarket, any additional Common Stock so purchased shall be eligible to receive any liquidating distributions from the Trust Account by the Company. However, in no event will

 

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the Subscriber have the right to redeem any shares of Common Stock into funds held in the Trust Account upon the successful completion of an initial business combination.

 

5.   Restrictions on Transfer .

 

5.1.   Securities Law Restrictions . In addition to any restrictions to be contained in that certain letter agreement (commonly known as an “ Insider Letter ”) to be entered into between the Company and the Subscriber in connection with the consummation of the IPO, the Subscriber agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Founder Shares unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Founder Shares proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company has received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.

 

5.2.   Lock-up.   The Subscriber acknowledges that the Founder Shares will be subject to lock-up provisions (the “ Lock-up ”) contained in the Insider Letter. Pursuant to the Insider Letter, the Subscriber will agree (subject to certain customary exceptions) not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial business combination or (B) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after its initial business combination that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the last sale price of the Common Stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial business combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the Lock-up.

 

5.3.   Restrictive Legends . All certificates representing the Founder Shares shall have endorsed thereon legends substantially as follows:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL (IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), IS AVAILABLE.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PROVISIONS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PERIOD.”

 

5.4.   Additional Founder Shares or Substituted Securities . In the event of the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration of a special dividend payable in a form other than Common Stock, a spin-off, a stock split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities or other property which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Founder Shares subject to this Section 5 or into which such Founder Shares thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject to this Section 5 and Section 3. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number or class of Founder Shares subject to this Section 5 and Section 3.

 

5.5.   Registration Rights . The Subscriber acknowledges that the Founder Shares are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or they are registered pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be entered into with the Company prior to the closing of the IPO (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

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6.   Other Agreements .

 

6.1.   Further Assurances . The Subscriber agrees to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

 

6.2.   Notices . All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered: (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.

 

6.3.   Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with that certain Insider Letter to be entered into between the Subscriber and the Company and the Registration Rights Agreement, each substantially in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Subscriber and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.4.   Modifications and Amendments . The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by all parties hereto.

 

6.5.   Waivers and Consents . The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.

 

6.6.   Assignment . The rights and obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

6.7.   Benefit . All statements, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each party hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto, and no person or entity shall be regarded as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

6.8.   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.

 

6.9.   Severability . In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it reasonable and enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

 

6.10.   No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies . No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy

 

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under this Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.

 

6.11.   Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made by the parties hereto in this Agreement or in any other agreement, certificate or instrument provided for or contemplated hereby, shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and any investigations made by or on behalf of the parties.

 

6.12.   No Broker or Finder . Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other that no broker, finder or other financial consultant has acted on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability on the other. Each of the parties hereto agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from any claim or demand for commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, financial consultant or similar agent claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of such party and to bear the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such claim.

 

6.13.   Headings and Captions . The headings and captions of the various sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

6.14.   Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.

 

6.15.   Construction . The words “ include ,” “ includes ,” and “ including ” will be deemed to be followed by “ without limitation .” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “ this Agreement ,” “ herein ,” “ hereof ,” “ hereby ,” “ hereunder ,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.

 

6.16.  Mutual Drafting . This Agreement is the joint product of the Subscriber and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.

 

7.   Voting and Redemption of Founder Shares . The Subscriber agrees to vote the Founder Shares in favor of an initial business combination that the Company negotiates and submits for approval to the Company’s stockholders and shall not seek redemption with respect to such Founder Shares. Additionally, the Subscriber agrees not to redeem any Founder Shares in connection with a redemption or tender offer presented to the Company’s stockholders in connection with an initial business combination negotiated by the Company.

 

8.   Indemnification . Each party shall indemnify the other against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing accurately sets forth our understanding and agreement, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement and return it to us.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen Girsky

 

 

 

Stephen Girsky

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted and agreed this 14th day of February, 2018.

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen Girsky

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

Title: Manager

 

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

1354 Flagler Drive

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

 

 

February 14, 2018

 

Cowen Investments, LLC

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

 

RE:  Subscription Agreement for Founder Shares

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are pleased to accept the offer Cowen Investments, LLC (the “ Subscriber ” or “ you ”) has made to purchase 1,449,000 shares (“ Founder Shares ”) of the common stock, $.0001 par value per share (“ Common Stock ”), of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), up to 189,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by you if the underwriters of the proposed initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of the Company pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-1 expected to be filed by the Company in connection with the IPO (the “ Registration Statement ”) do not fully exercise their over-allotment option (the “ Over-allotment Option ”) as described below. The terms (this “ Agreement ”) on which the Company is willing to sell the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, and the Company and the Subscriber’s agreements regarding such Founder Shares, are as follows:

 

1.   Purchase of Founder Shares . For the sum of $6,300.00 (the “ Purchase Price ”), which the Company acknowledges receiving in cash, the Company hereby sells and issues the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, and the Subscriber hereby purchases the Founder Shares from the Company, subject to the forfeiture provisions of Section 3 below, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. Concurrently with the Subscriber’s execution of this Agreement, the Company shall, at its option, deliver to the Subscriber a certificate registered in the Subscriber’s name representing the Founder Shares, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

2.   Representations, Warranties and Agreements .

 

2.1.   The Subscriber’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements . To induce the Company to issue the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, the Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to the Company and agrees with the Company as follows:

 

2.1.1.   No Government Recommendation or Approval . The Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the offering of the Founder Shares.

 

2.1.2.   No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the formation and governing documents of the Subscriber, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Subscriber is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber is subject.

 

2.1.3.   Organization and Authority . The Subscriber is a Delaware limited liability company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery by you, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Subscriber, enforceable against the Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

2.1.4.   Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability . The Subscriber is: (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Founder Shares and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Founder Shares for an indefinite period of time because the Founder Shares

 

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have not been registered under the Securities Act (as defined below) and therefore cannot be resold unless such transaction is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Subscriber is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. The Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Founder Shares are sold pursuant to: (x) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (y) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. The Subscriber is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Founder Shares and to afford a complete loss of the Subscriber’s investment in the Founder Shares.

 

2.1.5.   Access to Information; Independent Investigation . Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Subscriber has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, the Subscriber has relied solely on the Subscriber’s own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon the Subscriber’s own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. The Subscriber understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2 and the Subscriber has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations or its prospects.

 

2.1.6.   Regulation D Offering . The Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and acknowledges the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption applicable to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under federal and state law.

 

2.1.7.   Investment Purposes . The Subscriber is purchasing the Founder Shares solely for investment purposes, for the Subscriber’s own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof. The Subscriber did not enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

2.1.8.   Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company . The Subscriber understands the Founder Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Subscriber understands the Founder Shares will be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act and the Subscriber understands that any certificate or book entries representing the Founder Shares will contain a legend in respect of such restrictions. If in the future the Subscriber decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Founder Shares, such Founder Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 hereof. The Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Founder Shares or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, the Subscriber may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, the Subscriber agrees not to resell the Founder Shares. The Subscriber further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to the Subscriber for the resale of the Founder Shares until at least one year following consummation of the initial business combination of the Company, despite technical compliance with the certain requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.

 

2.1.9.   No Governmental Consents . No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate on the part of the Subscriber in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

2.2.   Company’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements . To induce the Subscriber to purchase the Founder Shares, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Subscriber and agrees with the Subscriber as follows:

 

2.2.1.   Organization and Corporate Power . The Company is a Delaware corporation and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material

 

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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.

 

2.2.2.   No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.

 

2.2.3.   Title to Securities . Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Founder Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof the Subscriber will have or receive good title to the Founder Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (a) transfer restrictions hereunder and other agreements to which the Founder Shares may be subject which have been notified to the Subscriber in writing, (b) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (c) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Subscriber.

 

2.2.4.   No Adverse Actions . There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending, threatened against or affecting the Company which: (i) seek to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) question the validity or legality of any transactions or seek to recover damages or to obtain other relief in connection with any transactions.

 

3.   Forfeiture of Founder Shares .

 

3.1.  Partial or No Exercise of the Over-allotment Option . In the event the Over-allotment Option granted to the underwriters of the IPO is not exercised in full, the Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it (and, if applicable, any transferee of Shares) shall automatically forfeit at the time such Over-allotment Option expires (or earlier if the underwriters of the IPO waive their ability to exercise such Over-allotment Option) any and all rights to such number of Founder Shares (up to an aggregate of 189,000 Founder Shares and pro rata based upon the percentage of the Over-allotment Option exercised) such that immediately following such forfeiture, the Subscriber (and any such transferees), collectively with all other initial stockholders of the Company prior to the IPO, will own an aggregate number of Founder Shares equal to 25% of the total number of shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO.

 

3.2.   Termination of Rights as Stockholder . If any of the Founder Shares are forfeited in accordance with this Section 3, then after such time the Subscriber (or its successor in interest), shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such forfeited Founder Shares, and the Company shall take such action as is appropriate to cancel such forfeited Founder Shares.

 

3.3.   Share Certificates . In the event an adjustment to any certificate representing the Founder Shares purchased pursuant hereto is required pursuant to this Section 3, then the Subscriber shall return such certificate to the Company or its designated agent as soon as practicable upon its receipt of notice from the Company advising the Subscriber of such adjustment, following which a new certificate shall be issued in such amount representing the adjusted number of Founder Shares held by the Subscriber. Such new certificate, if any, shall be returned to the Subscriber as soon as practicable. Any such adjustment for any uncertificated securities held by the Subscriber shall be made in book-entry form.

 

4.   Waiver of Liquidation Distributions; Redemption Rights . In connection with the Founder Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions by the Company from the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the IPO will be deposited (the “ Trust Account ”), in the event of a liquidation of the Company upon the Company’s failure to timely complete an initial business combination. For purposes of clarity, in the event the Subscriber purchases securities in the IPO or securities of the Company issued in the IPO in the aftermarket, any additional Common Stock so purchased shall be eligible to receive any liquidating distributions from the Trust Account by the Company. However, in no event will

 

3



 

the Subscriber have the right to redeem any shares of Common Stock into funds held in the Trust Account upon the successful completion of an initial business combination.

 

5.   Restrictions on Transfer .

 

5.1.   Securities Law Restrictions . In addition to any restrictions to be contained in that certain letter agreement (commonly known as an “ Insider Letter ”) to be entered into between the Company and the Subscriber in connection with the consummation of the IPO, the Subscriber agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Founder Shares unless, prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Founder Shares proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company has received an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.

 

5.2.   Lock-up.   The Subscriber acknowledges that the Founder Shares will be subject to lock-up provisions (the “ Lock-up ”) contained in the Insider Letter. Pursuant to the Insider Letter, the Subscriber will agree (subject to certain customary exceptions) not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial business combination or (B) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after its initial business combination that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the last sale price of the Common Stock 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 any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial business combination, the Founder Shares will be released from the Lock-up.

 

In addition, the Founder Shares will be deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) and will therefore be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or commencement of sales of the IPO, subject to certain limited exceptions, pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the FINRA Manual. Accordingly, the Founder Shares may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement except to any underwriter or selected dealer participating in the IPO and the bona fide officers or partners of the Subscriber and any such participating underwriter or selected dealer nor may they be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person during such 180-day period.

 

5.3.   Restrictive Legends . All certificates representing the Founder Shares shall have endorsed thereon legends substantially as follows:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL (IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), IS AVAILABLE.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PROVISIONS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PERIOD.”

 

5.4.   Additional Founder Shares or Substituted Securities . In the event of the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration of a special dividend payable in a form other than Common Stock, a spin-off, a stock split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities or other property which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Founder Shares subject to this Section 5 or

 

4



 

into which such Founder Shares thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject to this Section 5 and Section 3. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number or class of Founder Shares subject to this Section 5 and Section 3.

 

5.5.   Registration Rights . The Subscriber acknowledges that the Founder Shares are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or they are registered pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be entered into with the Company prior to the closing of the IPO (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

6.   Other Agreements .

 

6.1.   Further Assurances . The Subscriber agrees to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

 

6.2.   Notices . All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered: (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.

 

6.3.   Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with that certain Insider Letter to be entered into between the Subscriber and the Company and the Registration Rights Agreement, each substantially in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Subscriber and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.4.   Modifications and Amendments . The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by all parties hereto.

 

6.5.   Waivers and Consents . The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.

 

6.6.   Assignment . The rights and obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

6.7.   Benefit . All statements, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each party hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto, and no person or entity shall be regarded as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

6.8.   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.

 

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6.9.   Severability . In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it reasonable and enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

 

6.10.   No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies . No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.

 

6.11.   Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made by the parties hereto in this Agreement or in any other agreement, certificate or instrument provided for or contemplated hereby, shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and any investigations made by or on behalf of the parties.

 

6.12.   No Broker or Finder . Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other that no broker, finder or other financial consultant has acted on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability on the other. Each of the parties hereto agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from any claim or demand for commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, financial consultant or similar agent claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of such party and to bear the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such claim.

 

6.13.   Headings and Captions . The headings and captions of the various sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

6.14.   Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.

 

6.15.   Construction . The words “ include ,” “ includes ,” and “ including ” will be deemed to be followed by “ without limitation .” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “ this Agreement ,” “ herein ,” “ hereof ,” “ hereby ,” “ hereunder ,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.

 

6.16.  Mutual Drafting . This Agreement is the joint product of the Subscriber and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.

 

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7.   Voting and Redemption of Founder Shares . The Subscriber agrees to vote the Founder Shares in favor of an initial business combination that the Company negotiates and submits for approval to the Company’s stockholders and shall not seek redemption with respect to such Founder Shares. Additionally, the Subscriber agrees not to redeem any Founder Shares in connection with a redemption or tender offer presented to the Company’s stockholders in connection with an initial business combination negotiated by the Company.

 

8.   Indemnification . Each party shall indemnify the other against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing accurately sets forth our understanding and agreement, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement and return it to us.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen Girsky

 

 

 

Stephen Girsky

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted and agreed this 14th day of February, 2018.

 

 

 

COWEN INVESTMENTS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen Sota

 

Name: Stephen Sota

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

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Exhibit 10.12

 

FORWARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Forward Purchase Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of April 18, 2018 between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and PSAM WorldArb Master Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted limited company (the “ Purchaser ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has confidentially submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) a draft registration statement on Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) for its initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of units (the “ Public Units ”), at a price of $10.00 per Public Unit, each Public Unit comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”, and the shares of Common Stock included in the Public Units, the “ Public Shares ”), and three-fourths of one warrant, where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (the “ Warrants ”, and the Warrants included in the Public Units, the “ Public Warrants ”);

 

WHEREAS, following the closing of the IPO (the “ IPO Closing ”), the Company will seek to identify and consummate a Business Combination;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Company will undertake a private placement, that will close simultaneously with the IPO Closing, of units (the “ Private Placement Units ”), each Private Placement Unit comprised of one share of Common Stock, and three-fourths of one Warrant;

 

WHEREAS, proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units in an aggregate amount equal to the gross proceeds from the IPO will be deposited into a trust account for the benefit of the holders of the Public Shares (the “ Trust Account ”), as described in the Registration Statement; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Purchaser shall subscribe for an aggregate of up to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Forward Purchase Shares ”), plus three-fourths of one Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock for each Forward Purchase Share (the “ Forward Purchase Warrants ”, and together with the Forward Purchase Shares, the “ Forward Purchase Securities ”), for $10.00 per share (the “ Forward Purchase Price ”), or an aggregate maximum amount of up to $25,000,000, immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination (the “ Business Combination Closing ”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, representations, warranties and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 



 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       Sale and Purchase .

 

(a)                                  Forward Purchase Securities .

 

(i)                                      The Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, that number of Forward Purchase Shares, up to a maximum of 2,500,000 Forward Purchase Shares (the “ Maximum Shares ”), plus three-fourths of one Forward Purchase Warrants for each Forward Purchase Share so issued and sold, up to a maximum of 1,875,000 Forward Purchase Warrants (the “ Maximum Warrants ”), in each case as determined as set forth in clause 1(a)(ii), for $10.00 per Forward Purchase Share, or an aggregate maximum amount of $25,000,000.

 

(ii)                                   The number of Forward Purchase Securities to be issued and sold by the Company and purchased by the Purchaser hereunder shall equal that number, if any, which is specified in the Closing Notice (as defined below); provided that in no event shall the number of Forward Purchase Shares or Forward Purchase Warrants purchased hereunder exceed the Maximum Shares or the Maximum Warrants, respectively.

 

(iii)                                Each Forward Purchase Warrant will have the same terms as each Public Warrant, and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, in connection with the IPO (the “ Warrant Agreement ”). Each Forward Purchase Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement. The Forward Purchase Warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the Business Combination Closing and 12 months following the IPO Closing, and will expire five years after the Business Combination Closing or earlier upon the redemption or liquidation of the Company, as described in the Warrant Agreement.

 

(iv)                               The Company shall require the Purchaser to purchase the number of Forward Purchase Securities provided pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) by delivering notice to the Purchaser (the “ Closing Notice ”), at least two (2) Business Days before the Business Combination Closing, specifying the number of Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants (which shall equal 75% of the number of Forward Purchase Shares) the Purchaser is required to purchase, the date of the Business Combination Closing, the aggregate Forward Purchase Price and instructions for wiring the Forward Purchase Price. The closing of the sale of Forward Purchase Securities (the “ Forward Closing ”) shall be on the same date and immediately prior to the Business Combination Closing (such date and time being referred to as the “ Forward Closing Date ”).

 

(v)                                  At least one (1) Business Day prior to the scheduled date of the Business Combination Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company, to be held in escrow until the Forward Closing, the aggregate Forward Purchase Price for the Forward

 

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Purchase Securities by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company in the Closing Notice. At the Forward Closing, (A) the aggregate Forward Purchase Price shall be released from escrow automatically and without further action by the Company or the Purchaser, and (B) upon such release, the Company shall issue the Forward Purchase Securities to the Purchaser in book-entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws), registered in the name of the Purchaser (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions), or to a custodian designated by the Purchaser, as applicable. In the event the Business Combination Closing does not occur on the date scheduled for closing, the Forward Closing shall not occur and the Company shall promptly (but not later than one (1) Business Day thereafter) return the aggregate Forward Purchase Price to the Purchaser, provided that such return of the Forward Purchase Price shall not terminate this Agreement or otherwise relieve either party of any of its obligations hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, “ 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.

 

(vi)                               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Purchaser shall be excused from its obligation to purchase the Forward Purchase Securities in connection with a specific Business Combination (the “ Right of Excusal ”) if it delivers an Excusal Notice (as defined below) as described below:

 

(A)                                At least seven (7) days prior to any vote of the Company’s board of directors to approve a definitive agreement (a “ Definitive Agreement ”) for a Business Combination with a specific target business (a “ Target ”), written notice (the “ Transaction Notification ”) shall be delivered by the Company to the Purchaser (such date of delivery, the “ Excusal Notice Date ”) of the Company’s intention to hold such a board vote. Such Transaction Notification shall set forth the material terms and such other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Purchaser to evaluate the terms of such Business Combination.

 

(B)                                The Purchaser shall have until five (5) days after the Excusal Notice Date (such date five (5) days after the Excusal Date, the “ Notification Deadline ”) to deliver written notice (an “ Excusal Notice ”) to the Company that it has decided not to purchase the Forward Purchase Securities for any reason.

 

(C)                                For the avoidance of doubt, after the Notification Deadline, the Purchaser will no longer have a Right of Excusal with respect to a Business Combination with such Target and after the execution of the Definitive Agreement, any rights of any party related to any change in the condition of the Target’s business will be set forth in and controlled by the Definitive Agreement between the Company and the Target.

 

(D)                                The Purchaser acknowledges and understands that in order to receive information possessed by the Company related to such Targets, the

 

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Purchaser will be required to enter into or be joined to confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements on customary and reasonable terms with such Targets restricting the use and disclosure of such information, and that, under certain circumstances, the Purchaser may come into possession of material, nonpublic information regarding a publicly traded company, including the Company.

 

(E)                                 If the Purchaser delivers an Excusal Notice to the Company to exercise its Right of Excusal, or if the Purchaser defaults in its obligation to purchase the Forward Purchase Securities, the Purchaser shall forfeit all or a portion of its membership interest in VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Sponsor ”), as set forth in the Sponsor’s limited liability company operating agreement.

 

(b)                                  Legends .  Each book entry for the Forward Purchase Securities shall contain a notation, and each certificate (if any) evidencing the Forward Purchase Securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend, in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN VIOLATION OF SUCH ACT AND LAWS. THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION, OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN FORWARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE HOLDER AND THE COMPANY. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY.”

 

2.                                       Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser .   The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows, as of the date hereof:

 

(a)                                  Organization and Power .  The Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)                                  Authorization .  The Purchaser has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Registration Rights (as defined below) may be limited by applicable federal or state securities laws.

 

(c)                                   Governmental Consents and Filings .  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal,

 

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state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Compliance with Other Instruments .  The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any violation or default (i) of any provisions of its organizational documents, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage to which it is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound or (v) of any provision of federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Purchaser, in each case (other than clause (i)), which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Purchase Entirely for Own Account .  This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Forward Purchase Securities to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of any state or federal securities laws, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of law. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Forward Purchase Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or any government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(f)                                    Disclosure of Information .  The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Forward Purchase Securities, as well as the terms of the Company’s proposed IPO, with the Company’s management.

 

(g)                                   Restricted Securities .  The Purchaser understands that the offer and sale of the Forward Purchase Securities to the Purchaser has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Forward Purchase Securities are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Forward Purchase Securities indefinitely unless they are registered with the SEC and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Forward Purchase Securities, or any shares of Common Stock for which they may be exercised, for resale, except as provided herein (the “ Registration Rights ”). The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or

 

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qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Forward Purchase Securities, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has confidentially submitted the Registration Statement for its proposed IPO. The Purchaser understands that the offering of Forward Purchase Securities and transactions contemplated hereunder are not and are not intended to be part of the IPO, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

(h)                                  No Public Market .  The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Forward Purchase Securities, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

(i)                                      High Degree of Risk .  The Purchaser understands that its agreement to purchase the Forward Purchase Securities involves a high degree of risk which could cause the Purchaser to lose all or part of its investment.

 

(j)                                     Accredited Investor .  The Purchaser is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(k)                                  Foreign Investors . If the Purchaser is not a United States person (as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “ Code ”)), the Purchaser hereby represents that it has satisfied itself as to the full observance of the laws of its jurisdiction in connection with any invitation to subscribe for the Forward Purchase Securities or any use of this Agreement, including (i) the legal requirements within its jurisdiction for the purchase of the Forward Purchase Securities, (ii) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to such purchase, (iii) any governmental or other consents that may need to be obtained, and (iv) the income tax and other tax consequences, if any, that may be relevant to the purchase, holding, redemption, sale, or transfer of the Forward Purchase Securities. The Purchaser’s subscription and payment for and continued beneficial ownership of the Forward Purchase Securities will not violate any applicable securities or other laws of the Purchaser’s jurisdiction.

 

(l)                                      No General Solicitation .  Neither the Purchaser, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders or partners has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (i) engaged in any general solicitation, or (ii) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

(m)                              Residence .  The Purchaser’s principal place of business is the office or offices located at the address of the Purchaser set forth on the signature page hereof.

 

(n)                                  Non-Public Information . The Purchaser acknowledges its obligations under applicable securities laws with respect to the treatment of non-public information relating to the Company.

 

(o)                                  Adequacy of Financing (p)   . The Purchaser has available to it sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement.

 

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(q)                                  Affiliation of Certain FINRA Members .  The Purchaser is neither a person associated nor affiliated with Cowen & Company, LLC or, to its actual knowledge, any other member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) that is participating in the IPO.

 

(r)                                     No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance .  Except for the specific representations and warranties contained in this  Section 2  and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, none of the Purchaser nor any person acting on behalf of the Purchaser nor any of the Purchaser’s affiliates (the “ Purchaser Parties ”) has made, makes or shall be deemed to make any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Purchaser and this offering, and the Purchaser Parties disclaim any such representation or warranty. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Section 3 of this Agreement and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, the Purchaser Parties specifically disclaim that they are relying upon any other representations or warranties that may have been made by the Company, any person on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates (collectively, the “ Company Parties ”).

 

3.                                       Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

 

(a)                                  Organization and Corporate Power .  The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. As of the date hereof, the Company has no subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                  Capitalization .  On the date hereof, the authorized share capital of the Company consists of:

 

(i)                                      100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 5,750,000 of which are issued and outstanding; and

 

(ii)                                   1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, none of which are issued and outstanding.

 

(c)                                   Authorization .  All corporate action required to be taken by the Company to authorize the Company to enter into this Agreement, and to issue the Forward Purchase Securities at the Forward Closing, and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Forward Closing. All corporate action on the part of the Company necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Company under this Agreement to be performed as of the Forward Closing, and the issuance and delivery of the Forward Purchase Securities and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants has been taken or will be taken prior to the Forward Closing. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Company, shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general

 

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application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Registration Rights may be limited by applicable federal or state securities laws.

 

(d)                                  Valid Issuance of Securities .  The Forward Purchase Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Forward Purchase Warrants and this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, as applicable, and free of all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, encumbrances and charges with respect to the issue thereof and restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer specified under this Agreement, applicable state and federal securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the Purchaser. The Forward Purchase Warrants, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies. Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in this Agreement and subject to the filings described in  Section 3(e)  below, the Forward Purchase Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

(e)                                   Governmental Consents and Filings .  Assuming the accuracy of the representations made by the Purchaser in this Agreement, no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws, if any, and pursuant to the Registration Rights.

 

(f)                                    Compliance with Other Instruments .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any violation or default (i) of any provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Charter ”), or other governing documents of the Company, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or (v) of any provision of federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, in each case (other than clause (i)) which would have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Operations .  As of the date hereof, the Company has not conducted, and prior to the IPO Closing the Company will not conduct, any operations other than organizational activities and activities in connection with offerings of its securities.

 

8



 

(h)                                  No General Solicitation .  Neither the Company, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or stockholders has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (i) engaged in any general solicitation, or (ii) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

(i)                                      No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance .  Except for the specific representations and warranties contained in this Section 3 and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, none of the Company Parties has made, makes or shall be deemed to make any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company, this offering, the proposed IPO or a potential Business Combination, and the Company Parties disclaim any such representation or warranty. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Purchaser in Section 2 of this Agreement and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, the Company Parties specifically disclaim that they are relying upon any other representations or warranties that may have been made by the Purchaser Parties.

 

4.                                       Registration Rights .

 

(a)                                  Registration .  The Company agrees that (i) it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC (at the Company’s sole cost and expense), within thirty (30) calendar days after the Business Combination Closing, a registration statement (the “ Forward Registration Statement ”) registering the resale of the Forward Purchase Securities and the Common Stock underlying the Forward Purchase Warrants (collectively, the “ Registrable Securities ”), (ii) it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Forward Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, and (iii) thereafter it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement effective and available for sales of the Registrable Securities until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the Registrable Securities have been sold or otherwise transferred and (B) such date as all of the Registrable Securities can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act; provided, however , that the Company’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities in the Forward Registration Statement are contingent upon the Purchaser furnishing in writing to the Company such information regarding the Purchaser, the securities of the Company held by the Purchaser and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by the Company to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification .

 

(i)                                      The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser (to the extent a seller under the Forward Registration Statement), the officers, directors, agents, partners, members, managers, stockholders, affiliates, employees and investment advisers of the Purchaser, each person who controls the Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the

 

9


 

Exchange Act ”)), and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, agents, affiliates, employees and investment advisers of each such controlling person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon (A) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Forward Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Forward Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or (B) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Section 4 , except to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information regarding the Purchaser furnished in writing to the Company by the Purchaser expressly for use therein. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Purchaser. The Company shall notify the Purchaser promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 4 of which the Company is aware.

 

(ii)                                   The Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or that are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Forward Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Forward Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding the Purchaser furnished in writing to the Company by the Purchaser expressly for use therein. In no event shall the liability of the Purchaser be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Purchaser upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)                                   Transfer .  The rights, duties and obligations of the Purchaser under this Section 4 may be assigned or delegated by the Purchaser in conjunction with and to the extent of

 

10



 

any permitted transfer or assignment of Registrable Securities by the Purchaser to any transferee or assignee pursuant to Section 9(f).

 

5.                                       Additional Agreements and Acknowledgements of the Purchaser .

 

(a)                                  Trust Account .

 

(i)                                      The Purchaser hereby acknowledges that it is aware that the Company will establish the Trust Account for the benefit of its public stockholders upon the IPO Closing. The Purchaser, for itself and its affiliates, hereby agrees that it has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it.

 

(ii)                                   The Purchaser hereby agrees that it shall have 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, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it. In the event the Purchaser has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, the Purchaser 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, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it.

 

(b)                                  Voting .  The Purchaser hereby agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, the Purchaser shall vote any shares of Common Stock owned by it in favor of any proposed Business Combination.

 

(c)                                   No Short Sales .  The Purchaser hereby agrees that neither it, nor any person or entity acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, will engage in any Short Sales with respect to securities of the Company prior to the Business Combination Closing. For purposes of this Section, “ Short Sales ” shall include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.

 

6.                                       Listing . The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Public Shares and Public Warrants on the NASDAQ Capital Market (or another national securities exchange).

 

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7.                                       Conditions for the Forward Closing .

 

(a)                                  The obligation of the Purchaser to purchase the Forward Purchase Securities at the Forward Closing under this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Forward Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, may be waived by the Purchaser:

 

(i)                                      The Business Combination shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the purchase of the Forward Purchase Securities;

 

(ii)                                   The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate evidencing the Company’s good standing as a Delaware corporation;

 

(iii)                                The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement shall have been true and correct as of the date hereof and shall be true and correct as of the Forward Closing Date, as applicable, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (other than any such representation or warranty that is made by its terms as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be so true and correct would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iv)                               The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Forward Closing; and

 

(v)                                  No order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination, or award shall have been entered by or with any governmental, regulatory, or administrative authority or any court, tribunal, or judicial, or arbitral body, and no other legal restraint or prohibition shall be in effect, preventing the purchase by the Purchaser of the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

(b)                                  The obligation of the Company to sell the Forward Purchase Securities at the Forward Closing under this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Forward Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, may be waived by the Company:

 

(i)                                      The Business Combination shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the purchase of the Forward Purchase Securities;

 

(ii)                                   The representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement shall have been true and correct as of the date hereof and shall be true and correct as of the Forward Closing Date, as applicable, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (other than any such representation or warranty that is made by its terms as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be so true and correct would not have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

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(iii)                                The Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Purchaser at or prior to the Forward Closing; and

 

(iv)                               No order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination, or award shall have been entered by or with any governmental, regulatory, or administrative authority or any court, tribunal, or judicial, or arbitral body, and no other legal restraint or prohibition shall be in effect, preventing the purchase by the Purchaser of the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

8.                                       Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Forward Closing:

 

(a)                                  by mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser;

 

(b)                                  automatically

 

(i)                                      if the IPO is not consummated on or prior to September 30, 2018;

 

(ii)                                   if the Business Combination is not consummated within 24 months from the IPO Closing, unless extended in accordance with the Charter; or

 

(iii)                                if the Sponsor or the Company becomes subject to any voluntary or involuntary petition under the United States federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law, in each case which is not withdrawn within sixty (60) days after being filed, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer is appointed by a court for business or property of the Sponsor or the Company, in each case which is not removed, withdrawn or terminated within sixty (60) days after such appointment.

 

In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8 , the Forward Purchase Price, if previously paid, and all Purchaser’s funds paid in connection herewith shall be promptly returned to the Purchaser, and thereafter this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of the Purchaser or the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, managers, members, or stockholders and all rights and obligations of each party shall cease; provided, however , that nothing contained in this Section 8 shall relieve either party from liabilities or damages arising out of any fraud or willful breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

 

9.                                       General Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Notices .  All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt, or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile (if any) during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next Business Day, (iii) five (5) Business Days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage

 

13



 

prepaid, or (iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next Business Day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications sent to the Company shall be sent to: VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, Email:          ,with a copy to the Company’s counsel at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166, Attention: Alan Annex, Email: annexa@gtlaw.com.

 

All communications to the Purchaser shall be sent to the Purchaser’s address as set forth on the signature page hereof, or to such email address, facsimile number (if any) or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 9(a).

 

(b)                                  No Finder’s Fees .  Each party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees or representatives are responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

 

(c)                                   Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Forward Closing.

 

(d)                                  Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with any documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant hereto or referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter 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.

 

(e)                                   Successors .  All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties, and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    Assignments .  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party.

 

(g)                                   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

14



 

(h)                                  Headings .  The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(i)                                      Governing Law .  This Agreement, the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.

 

(j)                                     Jurisdiction .  The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (ii) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in state courts of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (iii) waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

(k)                                  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(l)                                      Amendments .  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except with the prior written consent of the Company and the Purchaser.

 

(m)                              Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided that if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party hereto or to any circumstance, is adjudged by a governmental authority, arbitrator, or mediator not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties hereto agree that the governmental authority, arbitrator, or mediator making such determination will have the power to modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.

 

(n)                                  Expenses .  Each of the Company and the Purchaser will bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including all fees and expenses of agents, representatives, financial advisors, legal counsel and accountants. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent; stamp taxes and all The Depository Trust Company fees associated with the issuance of the Forward Purchase Securities and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants.

 

15



 

(o)                                  Construction .  The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign law will be deemed also to refer to law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.

 

(p)                                  Waiver .  No waiver by any party hereto of any default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent occurrence.

 

(q)                                  Specific Performance .  The Purchaser agrees that irreparable damage may occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof and that the Company shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.

 

(r)                                     Confidentiality .  Except as may be required by law, regulation or applicable stock exchange listing requirements, unless and until the transactions contemplated hereby and the terms hereof are publicly announced or otherwise publicly disclosed by the Company, the parties hereto shall keep confidential and shall not publicly disclose the existence or terms of this Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

16



 

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

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

PSAM WORLDARB MASTER FUND LTD.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Dhananjay Pai

 

Name:

Dhananjay Pai

 

Title:

COO

 

 

 

Address for Notices :

c/o P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP

 

 

1350 Avenue of the Americas

 

 

New York, NY 10019

 

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen Girsky

 

Name:

Stephen Girsky

 

Title:

CEO

 

Signature Page
To

Forward Purchase Agreement

 




Exhibit 10.13

 

SECURITIES ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Securities Assignment Agreement is dated as of March 28, 2018 (this “ Assignment ”), by and among VectoIQ Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Seller ”), and the parties identified on the signature page hereto (each a “ Buyer ” and collectively, the “ Buyers ”).

 

WHEREAS , on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Assignment, the Seller wishes to assign to the Buyers an aggregate of 60,000 shares (the “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), and the Buyers wish to purchase and receive the Shares from the Seller.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises, representations, warranties and the mutual covenants contained in this Assignment, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Section  1                                            Assignment of Shares . Seller hereby assigns 15,000 Shares to each of the Buyers.  Each Buyer has paid to the Seller an aggregate amount of Sixty Five Dollars ($65), for an aggregate purchase price of Two Hundred Sixty Dollars ($260) (the “ Purchase Price ”), in consideration of the assignment of the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company determines for any reason not to nominate, elect or appoint any Buyer as a member of the board of directors of the Company, or if any Buyer otherwise does not become a member of the board of directors of the Company for any reason, on or prior to the closing of the Public Offering, such Buyer shall automatically forfeit all of the Shares held by such Buyer, which shall automatically be assigned and returned to the Seller, and the Seller shall promptly return the applicable portion of the Purchase Price to such Buyer.

 

Section  2                                            No Conflicts . Each party represents and warrants that neither the execution and delivery of this Assignment by such party, nor the consummation or performance by such party of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, will with or without notice or lapse of time, constitute, create or result in a breach or violation of, default under, loss of benefit or right under or acceleration of performance of any obligation required under any agreement to which it is a party.

 

Section  3                                            Investment Representations . Each Buyer represents and warrants, with respect to himself or herself only, as set forth herein.  Such Buyer hereby acknowledges that an investment in the Shares involves certain significant risks.  Such Buyer has no need for liquidity in its investment in the Shares for the foreseeable future and is able to bear the risk of that investment for an indefinite period.  Such Buyer acknowledges and hereby agrees that the Shares will not be transferable under any circumstances unless registered by the Company in accordance with federal and state securities laws or sold in compliance with an exemption under such laws and such transfer complies with all applicable lock-up restrictions on such Buyer (as described in the Company’s draft registration statement on Form S-1, as may be amended (the “ Registration Statement ”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), relating to a contemplated underwritten public offering by the Company (the “ Public Offering ”)).  Such Buyer further understands that Buyer will be required to execute and deliver a letter agreement including, among other provisions, the foregoing transfer restrictions, and that any certificates evidencing the Shares bear a legend referring to such transfer restrictions.

 

The Shares are being acquired solely for such Buyer’s own account, for investment purposes only, and are not being purchased with a view to or for the resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization thereof; and such Buyer has no present plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement for such resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization.  Such Buyer has been given the opportunity to (i) ask questions of and receive answers from the Seller and the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the Shares, and the business and financial condition of the Company and (ii) obtain any additional information that the Seller possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to assist such Buyer in evaluating the advisability of the purchase of the Shares and an investment in the Company.  Such Buyer is not relying on any oral representation made by any person as to the Company or its operations, financial condition or prospects.  Such

 



 

Buyer is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act.  In the event such Buyer does not join the Board of Directors of the Company upon the consummation of the Public Offering (whether and either at the election of the Company or such Buyer for any reason), then the Buyer shall promptly return the Shares to the Company.

 

Section  4                                            Miscellaneous . This Assignment, together with the certificates, documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant hereto, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter.  This Assignment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.  This Assignment may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.  Except as otherwise provided herein, no party hereto may assign either this Assignment or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have executed this Assignment to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen Girsky

 

 

Name: Stephen Girsky

 

 

Title: Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUYERS:

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert Gendelman

 

Robert Gendelman

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Sarah W. Hallac

 

Sarah W. Hallac

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Richard J. Lynch

 

Richard J. Lynch

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Victoria McInnis

 

Victoria McInnis

 

[Signature Page to Securities Assignment Agreement]

 




Exhibit 10.14

 

THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THERE ARE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.

 

THE PURCHASE OF THE SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY BY PERSONS WHO CAN BEAR THE RISK OF THE LOSS OF THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT.

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

This Subscription Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of April      , 2018 between VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), VectoIQ Holdings, LLC (the “ Sponsor ”) and [BlackRock Entity], a                        (the “ Purchaser ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has confidentially submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) a draft registration statement on Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) for its initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of units (the “ Public Units ”), at a price of $10.00 per Public Unit, each Public Unit comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”, and the shares of Common Stock included in the Public Units, the “ Public Shares ”), and three-fourths of one warrant, where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (the “ Warrants ”, and the Warrants included in the Public Units, the “ Public Warrants ”);

 

WHEREAS, proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined below) in an aggregate amount equal to the gross proceeds from the IPO will be deposited into a trust account for the benefit of the holders of the Public Shares (the “ Trust Account ”), as described in the Registration Statement;

 

WHEREAS, following the closing of the IPO (the “ IPO Closing ”), the Company will seek to identify and consummate a Business Combination;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Sponsor and the Purchaser will purchase, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the IPO Closing, units (the “ Private Placement Units ”), each Private Placement Unit comprised of one share of Common Stock and three-quarters of one Warrant;

 



 

WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Purchaser shall subscribe for and purchase (i) a portion of the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued prior to the IPO (“ Founder Shares ”) and (ii) Private Placement Units (together with the Founder Shares, the “ Subscribed Securities ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into or intends to concurrently with this Agreement enter into agreements (collectively, the “ Subscription Agreements ”) in the form of this Agreement with certain affiliates of the Purchaser (together with the Purchaser, the “ Subscribing Parties ”) for the purchase of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, representations, warranties and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       Sale and Purchase .

 

(a)                                  Securities .

 

(i)                                      Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Purchaser hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Purchaser, the number of Subscribed Securities set forth on the signature page hereto for the aggregate purchase price set forth on the signature page hereto (the “ Purchase Price ”). The Purchaser acknowledges that the Subscribed Securities, and any securities of the Company that may be distributed to the Purchaser on account of the Subscribed Securities (collectively, the “ Securities ”), will be subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   On the date hereof, (A) the Company shall issue to the Purchaser the number of Founder Shares set forth on the signature page hereto, in consideration for the Purchaser’s payment of the that portion of the Purchase Price applicable to such Founder Shares, as set forth on the signature page hereto, by wire transfer of immediately available funds or other means approved by the Company, and (B) the Sponsor shall forfeit to the Company for cancellation, for no consideration, and have no further right, title or interest in, an equal number of Founder Shares. If the IPO Closing has not occurred by June 30, 2018, then the Company will promptly redeem the Purchaser’s Founder Shares issued pursuant to this Section 1(a)(ii) for a cash payment equal to the Purchase Price paid by the Purchaser in respect of such Founder Shares.

 

(iii)                                The Company shall notify the Purchaser in writing of the anticipated date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (the “ Effective Date ”) at least three (3) Business Days (as defined below) prior to the Effective Date, and the Purchaser shall remit the balance of the Purchase Price to the Company’s transfer agent (to be held in escrow pending the IPO Closing), by wire transfer of immediately available funds or other means approved by the Company, on the date that is one Business Day prior to the Effective Date, or such other date as the Company and the Purchaser may

 

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agree upon in writing. As used herein, “ 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. If the IPO Closing has not occurred by the date that is seven (7) Business Days after the date on which the Purchaser remitted the balance of its Purchase Price to the Company’s transfer agent, then, unless the Purchaser otherwise agrees in writing, the Company will promptly cause its transfer agent to return such amounts to the Purchaser.

 

(iv)                               On the date of the IPO Closing, the Company shall issue to the Purchaser the number of Private Placement Units set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(b)                                  Delivery of Securities .

 

(i)                                      The Company shall register the Purchaser as the owner of the Subscribed Securities with the Company’s transfer agent by book entry on or promptly after (but in no event more than two (2) Business Days after) the date on which such securities are issued to the Purchaser (provided that prior to the Company’s appointment of a transfer agent it shall register the Purchaser as the owner of such securities in the Company’s stock ledger upon issuance thereof).

 

(ii)                                   Each register and book entry for the Securities shall contain a notation, and each certificate (if any) evidencing the Securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend, in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN VIOLATION OF SUCH ACT AND LAWS.

 

THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION, OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE HOLDER AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.”

 

(c)                                   Legend Removal . Following the expiration of the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 5(a) , if the Securities are eligible to be sold without restriction under, and without the Company being in compliance with the current public information requirements of, Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) or if they are registered for resale under the Securities Act pursuant to a shelf registration statement, then at the Purchaser’s request, the Company will use best efforts to cause the Company’s transfer agent to remove the legend set forth in Section 1(b)(ii), subject to compliance by the Purchaser with such reasonable procedures for such removal required by the Company or its transfer agent. In connection therewith, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Company will promptly

 

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cause an opinion of counsel to be delivered to and maintained with its transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent that authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Securities without any such legend.

 

(d)                                  Registration Rights . On the Effective Date, the Company shall enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) with the Sponsor and the Subscribing Parties, in substantially the form provided to the Purchaser prior to the date hereof. The Registration Rights Agreement shall provide the Purchaser with registration rights that are no less favorable to the Purchaser than the registration rights of the Sponsor set forth therein.

 

2.                                       Potential Forfeiture.

 

(a)                                  If (i) on the date set for the vote by the Company’s stockholders to approve the Business Combination or (ii) on the Business Day (as defined below) immediately prior to the scheduled closing of the Business Combination (each, a “ Determination Date ”), the Purchaser beneficially owns or holds, directly or indirectly, including through any firm commitments to purchase, a number of Public Shares (the lesser number of Public Shares so beneficially owned by the Purchaser on either Determination Date, the “ Determination Date Shares ”) that is less than the Forfeiture Threshold (as defined below), then (1) the Purchaser shall automatically forfeit to the Company, and have no further right, title or interest in, a pro rata number of its Founder Shares, and (2) the Sponsor (or its designee, provided that any designee shall be subject to the approval of the Purchaser, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) shall have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase from the Purchaser a pro rata number of the Purchaser’s Private Placement Units for a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit (such number of Private Placement Units, the “ Callable Units ”), in each case calculated as a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Shortfall Shares (as defined below) and the denominator is the Forfeiture Threshold. For the avoidance of doubt, in calculating the number of Public Shares (if any) which the Purchaser beneficially owns or holds, directly or indirectly, for purposes of determining the number of Determination Date Shares, no Public Shares that are beneficially owned by any other Subscribing Party shall be counted (e.g., no Public Shares shall be double counted among Subscribing Parties). The Purchaser shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate any forfeiture and/or sale contemplated by this Section 2 , including entering into agreements and delivering certificates and instruments and consents as may be deemed by the Company to be necessary or appropriate (which shall not require the Purchaser to make any representations other than as to its clear title to the applicable Founder Shares and/or Private Placement Units and its power and authorization to effect the transactions contemplated by the applicable agreement or other instrument), and the Purchaser hereby grants to the Company and any representative designated by the Company without further action by the Purchaser a limited irrevocable power of attorney to effect any forfeiture contemplated hereby on behalf of the Purchaser, which power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

(b)                                  As used herein, (i) the “ Forfeiture Threshold ” shall initially mean [   ] shares of Common Stock; provided, that if the actual number of Public Units offered and sold in the IPO is less than 20,000,000 (without regard to the over-allotment option), then the Forfeiture Threshold shall be automatically reduced on a pro rata basis, and (ii) the “ Shortfall Shares ” shall mean the amount by which the Forfeiture Threshold exceeds the Determination Date Shares.

 

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(c)                                   Solely by way of example to illustrate the provisions of Section 2(a) , if the Forfeiture Threshold is 2,500,000 and on each Determination Date the Purchaser beneficially owns 1,500,000 shares of Public Shares (such that the number of Determination Date Shares is 1,500,000), then the number of Shortfall Shares shall be 1,000,000, and the percentage of (i) the Purchaser’s Founder Shares that the Purchaser would forfeit and (ii) the Purchaser’s Private Placement Units that the Sponsor (or its designee) would have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase for a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, would be 40% (e.g., 1,000,000 divided by 2,500,000).

 

(d)                                  If, in connection with the expiration or termination of the underwriters’ over-allotment option in connection with the IPO, the Sponsor forfeits any Founder Shares to the Company for cancellation, then the Purchaser agrees to forfeit its Founder Shares to the Company for cancellation on the same basis (such that if no portion of the over-allotment option is exercised, the Purchaser would forfeit a total of [    ] of its Founder Shares, and if the over-allotment option is exercised in part, the Purchaser would forfeit a pro rata portion thereof, based on the portion of the over-allotment option that is not exercised as a percentage of the total number of Public Units issuable upon exercise of the over-allotment option), and hereby grants to the Company and any representative designated by the Company without further action by the Purchaser a limited irrevocable power of attorney to effect such forfeiture on behalf of the Purchaser, which power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

(e)                                   If, in connection with the closing of a Business Combination (the “ Business Combination Closing ), the Sponsor (i) agrees to forfeit any Founder Shares or Private Placement Units to the Company at no cost or subject its Founder Shares or Private Placement Units to contractual terms or restrictions, convert its Class B Shares into other securities or contractual rights or otherwise modify the terms of its Founder Shares or Private Placement Units (each a “ Sponsor Modification ”) and (ii) provides the Purchaser with written notice of the Sponsor Modification at least three (3) Business Days prior to the deadline for the submission of requests for redemption of the Public Shares, then the Purchaser agrees to forfeit, subject, convert or modify its Founder Shares or Private Placement Units on a pro rata basis and on the same terms as the Sponsor, and hereby grants to the Company and any representative designated by the Company without further action by the Purchaser a limited irrevocable power of attorney to effect such forfeiture or Sponsor Modification on behalf of the Purchaser, which power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

3.                                       Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser .   The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows, as of the date hereof:

 

(a)                                  Organization and Power .  The Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)                                  Authorization .  The Purchaser has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,

 

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reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

 

(c)                                   Governmental Consents and Filings .  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings pursuant to applicable securities laws, rules or regulations.

 

(d)                                  Compliance with Other Instruments .  The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any violation or default (i) of any provisions of its organizational documents, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage to which it is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound or (v) of any provision of federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Purchaser, in each case (other than clause (i)), which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Purchase Entirely for Own Account .  This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Securities to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of any state or federal securities laws, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of law. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person (other than the Company) to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or any government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(f)                                    Disclosure of Information .  The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities, as well as the terms of the Company’s proposed IPO, with the Company’s management.

 

(g)                                   Restricted Securities .  The Purchaser understands that the offer and sale of the Securities to the Purchaser has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Securities indefinitely unless they are

 

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registered with the SEC and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Securities except pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.  The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Securities, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has confidentially submitted the Registration Statement for its proposed IPO. The Purchaser understands that the offering of Securities and transactions contemplated hereunder are not and are not intended to be part of the IPO, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act with respect to its purchase of Securities hereunder.

 

(h)                                  No Public Market .  The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Securities, and that the Company has not made any assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Securities.

 

(i)                                      High Degree of Risk .  The Purchaser understands that the purchase of the Subscribed Securities involves a high degree of risk which could cause the Purchaser to lose all or part of its investment.

 

(j)                                     Accredited Investor .  The Purchaser is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(k)                                  No General Solicitation .  Neither the Purchaser, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders or partners has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (i) to its knowledge, engaged in any general solicitation, or (ii) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

 

(l)                                      Place of Investment Decision .  The Purchaser’s investment decision was made in the office or offices located at the address of the Purchaser set forth on the signature page hereof.

 

(m)                              Adequacy of Financing. The Purchaser will, when such funds are due hereunder, have sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(o)                                  No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance .  Except for the specific representations and warranties contained in this  Section 3  and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, none of the Purchaser nor any person acting on behalf of the Purchaser nor any of the Purchaser’s affiliates (the “ Purchaser Parties ”) has made, makes or shall be deemed to make any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Purchaser and this offering, and the Purchaser Parties disclaim any such representation or warranty. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Section 4 of this Agreement and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, the Purchaser Parties specifically disclaim that they are relying upon any other representations or warranties that may have been made by the Company, any person on behalf of the Company or

 

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any of the Company’s affiliates (collectively, the “ Company Parties ”) with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.                                       Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

 

(a)                                  Organization and Corporate Power .  The Company is incorporated and validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)                                  Capitalization . The authorized share capital of the Company consists, as of the date hereof:

 

(i)                                      100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 5,750,000 of which are issued and outstanding and held by the Sponsor, Cowen Investments LLC and the Company’s independent director nominees. All of the outstanding 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

(ii)                                   1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which are issued and outstanding.

 

(c)                                   Authorization .  All corporate action required to be taken by the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders in order to authorize the Company to enter into this Agreement, and to issue the Subscribed Securities, has been taken on or prior to the date hereof. All action on the part of the stockholders, directors and officers of the Company necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Company under this Agreement, and the issuance and delivery of the Subscribed Securities has been taken on or prior to the date hereof. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Company, shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

 

(d)                                  Valid Issuance of Securities .

 

(i)                                      The Subscribed Securities, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid, as applicable, and free of all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, encumbrances and charges with respect to the issue thereof and restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer specified under this Agreement, applicable state and federal securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the Purchaser. Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in this Agreement and subject to the filings described in  Section 4(e)  below, the Subscribed

 

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Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

(ii)                                   No “bad actor” disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) of the Securities Act (a “ Disqualification Event ”) is applicable to the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Company Covered Person (as defined below), except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii–iv) or (d)(3), is applicable. “ Company Covered Person ” means, with respect to the Company as an “issuer” for purposes of Rule 506 promulgated under the Securities Act, any Person listed in the first paragraph of Rule 506(d)(1).

 

(e)                                   Governmental Consents and Filings .  Assuming the accuracy of the representations made by the Purchaser in this Agreement, no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws, if any.

 

(f)                                    Compliance with Other Instruments .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any violation or default (i) of any provisions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other governing documents of the Company, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or (v) of any provision of federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, in each case (other than clause (i)) which would have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Operations . As of the date hereof, the Company has not conducted, and prior to the IPO Closing the Company will not conduct, any operations other than organizational activities and activities in connection with offerings of the Securities.

 

(h)                                  Foreign Corrupt Practices . Neither the Company, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.

 

(i)                                      Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and all other applicable U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money

 

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laundering laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the applicable money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, 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 with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(j)                                     Absence of Litigation . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of the Company’s officers or directors, whether of a civil or criminal nature or otherwise, in their capacities as such.

 

(k)                                  No General Solicitation .  Neither the Company, nor any of its officers, managers, employees, agents or members has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (i) engaged in any general solicitation, or (ii) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Subscribed Securities.

 

(l)                                      Non-Public Information . The Company represents and warrants that none of the information conveyed to the Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will constitute material non-public information of the Company upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

 

(m)                              No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance .  Except for the specific representations and warranties contained in this Section 4 and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, none of the Company Parties has made, makes or shall be deemed to make any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or the offering of Securities hereunder, and the Company Parties disclaim any such representation or warranty. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Purchaser in Section 3 of this Agreement and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, the Company Parties specifically disclaim that they are relying upon any other representations or warranties that may have been made by the Purchaser Parties.

 

5.                                       Additional Agreements and Acknowledgements of the Purchaser .

 

(a)                                  Transfer Restrictions .  The Purchaser agrees that it shall not Transfer (as defined below) any Securities until the earlier of (A) one year after the Business Combination Closing and (B) the date following the Business Combination Closing on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “ Lock-up Period ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) subsequent to a Business Combination, the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period commencing at least one hundred and fifty (150) days after the Business Combination Closing,

 

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the Securities shall be released from the lockup referenced herein, or (2) the Purchaser forfeits any Founder Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(a) of this Agreement and the Sponsor (or its designee) does not exercise its right to purchase the Callable Units, then the Callable Units (including the underlying securities) shall be released from the lockup referenced herein upon the consummation of the Business Combination. Notwithstanding the first sentence hereinabove, Transfers of the Securities are permitted (i) to any other person or entity that holds Common Stock prior to the consummation of the IPO; (ii) to the Company’s officers, directors or employees; (iii) in the case of an entity, as a distribution to its partners, stockholders or members upon liquidation; (iv) in the case of an individual, 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, for estate planning purposes; (v) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (vi) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (vii) by pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of the Company’s securities; (viii) 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 applicable Securities were originally purchased; (ix) in the event of the Company’s liquidation, bankruptcy or dissolution prior to the completion of a Business Combination; (x) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination; (xi) to the Purchaser’s affiliates, to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the Purchaser, or to any investment manager or investment advisor of the Purchaser or an affiliate of any such investment manager or investment advisor; (xi) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (x) above; and (xii) pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement (each of the foregoing, a “ Permitted Transferee ”); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (xi), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, including the forfeiture provisions of Section 2 and these transfer restrictions. As used in this Agreement, “ Transfer ” shall mean the (x) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecation, 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 SEC promulgated thereunder) with respect to, any of the Securities; (y) 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 of the Securities, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such Securities, in cash or otherwise, or (z) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (x) or (y); provided, that this Section 5(a) shall not prohibit the Purchaser from effecting a Short Sale (as defined below) with securities that do not constitute “Securities” under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Trust Account .

 

(i)                                      The Purchaser hereby acknowledges that it is aware that the Company will establish the Trust Account for the benefit of its public stockholders upon the IPO Closing. The Purchaser hereby agrees that it has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, or any other asset of the

 

11



 

Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it.

 

(ii)                                   The Purchaser hereby agrees that it shall have 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, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it. In the event the Purchaser has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, the Purchaser 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, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it.

 

(c)                                   No Short Sales .  The Purchaser hereby agrees that neither it, nor any person or entity acting on its behalf, will engage in any Short Sales with respect to securities of the Company prior to the closing of the Business Combination. For purposes of this Section 5.1(d) , “ Short Sales ” shall include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis).

 

(d)                                  Use of Purchaser’s Name . Neither the Company nor the Sponsor will, without the written consent of the Purchaser in each instance, use in advertising, publicity or otherwise the name of the Purchaser or any of its affiliates, or any director, officer or employee of the Purchaser, nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by the Purchaser or its affiliates or any information relating to the business or operations of the Purchaser or its affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any investment vehicles, funds or accounts managed thereby). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may disclose (i) Purchaser’s name and information concerning the Purchaser (A) to the extent required by law, regulation or regulatory request, including in the Registration Statement to the extent required by the rules or regulations of the SEC applicable thereto or pursuant to a request for such disclosure from the Staff of the SEC or FINRA or (B) to the Company’s lawyers, independent accountants and to other advisors and service providers who reasonably require Purchaser’s information in connection with the provision of services to the Company, are advised of the confidential nature of such information and are obligated to keep such information confidential, and (ii) Purchaser’s name and the terms of this Agreement to the other Subscription Parties. The Company and the Sponsor agree to provide to the Purchaser for Purchaser’s review any disclosure in any registration statement or other document in advance of the submission, filing or disclosure of such document in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Purchaser or any of its affiliates, and will not make any such submission, filing or disclosure without including any revisions reasonably requested by the Purchaser or if the Purchaser has a good faith objection to such submission, filing or disclosure.

 

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(e)                                   Stock Exchange Listing . The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock and Warrants on The Nasdaq Capital Market (or another national securities exchange) until the third anniversary of the consummation of a Business Combination.

 

6.                                       General Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Notices .  All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt, or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile (if any) during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next Business Day, (iii) five (5) Business Days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next Business Day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications sent to the Company shall be sent to: VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., 1354 Flagler Drive, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, Attention: Manager, Email: sgirsky@vectoiq.com, with a copy to Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166, Attention: Alan Annex, Email: annexa@gtlaw.com.

 

All communications to the Purchaser shall be sent to the Purchaser’s address as set forth on the signature page hereof, or to such email address, facsimile number (if any) or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 6(a) .

 

(b)                                  No Finder’s Fees .  Each party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees or representatives are responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

 

(c)                                   Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with any other documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant hereto or referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter 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.

 

13



 

(e)                                   Successors .  All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties, and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    Assignments .  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party.

 

(g)                                   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(h)                                  Headings .  The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(i)                                      Governing Law .  This Agreement, the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.

 

(j)                                     Jurisdiction .  The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (ii) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in state courts of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (iii) waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

(k)                                  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(l)                                      Amendments .  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except with the prior written consent of the Company and the Purchaser.

 

(m)                              Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided that if any provision of this Agreement, as

 

14



 

applied to any party hereto or to any circumstance, is adjudged by a governmental authority, arbitrator, or mediator not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties hereto agree that the governmental authority, arbitrator, or mediator making such determination will have the power to modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.

 

(n)                                  Expenses .  Each of the Company and the Purchaser will bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including all fees and expenses of agents, representatives, financial advisors, legal counsel and accountants. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent, stamp taxes and all of The Depository Trust Company’s fees associated with the issuance of the Securities and the securities issuable upon conversion or exercise of the Securities.

 

(o)                                  Construction .  The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign law will be deemed also to refer to law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.

 

(p)                                  Waiver .  No waiver by any party hereto of any default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent occurrence.

 

(q)                                  Specific Performance .  Each party hereto agrees that irreparable damage may occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed by the other party hereto in accordance with the terms hereof and that the such party shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.

 

(r)                                     Confidentiality .  Except as may be required by law, regulation or applicable stock exchange listing requirements (but subject in any case to the provisions of

 

15



 

Section 5(d) hereof), unless and until the transactions contemplated hereby and the terms hereof are publicly announced or otherwise publicly disclosed by the Company, the parties hereto shall keep confidential and shall not publicly disclose the existence or terms of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser shall be permitted to disclose any information to its affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, advisors, director or indirect owners, agents and representatives, in each case so long as such person or entity has been advised of the confidentiality obligations hereunder; provided that the Purchaser shall be liable for any breach of such confidentiality obligations by any such person or entity.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

16



 

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

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

[BLACKROCK ENTITY]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Subscribed Securities :

 

 

 

Number of
Subscribed Securities

 

Purchase Price

 

Founder Shares

 

[   ]

 

$

[   ]

 

Private Placement Units

 

[   ]

 

$

[   ]

 

 

 

Purchaser’s Address for Notices :

 

 

 

c/o BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
Attn:  Christopher Biasotti

 

Signature Page
To

Subscription Agreement

 



 

 

with copies to:

 

 

 

c/o BlackRock, Inc.
Office of the General Counsel
40 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
Attn:  David Maryles and Joe Roy
Email:  legaltransactions@blackrock.com

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10166

Attn: Joel L. Rubinstein

Email: jrubinstein@winston.com

Fax: (212) 294-4700

 

 

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

 

 

 

VECTOIQ HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Signature Page
To

Subscription Agreement

 




Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. of our report dated April 19, 2018, relating to the financial statements of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ RSM US LLP

 

New York, New York

April 19, 2018

 

1




Exhibit 99.3

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of April 13, 2018.

 

 

/s/ Robert Gendelman

 

Name: Robert Gendelman

 




Exhibit 99.4

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of April 12, 2018.

 

 

/s/ Sarah Hallac

 

Name: Sarah Hallac

 




Exhibit 99.5

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of April 18, 2018.

 

 

/s/ Richard Lynch

 

Name: Richard Lynch

 




Exhibit 99.6

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of April 13, 2018.

 

 

/s/ Victoria McInnis

 

Name: Victoria McInnis